Textual analysis Seven

About the movie

The movie seven is an American psychological thriller released in September 1995.

It tells the story of a young detective, played by Brad Pitt who is partnered with the retiring detective Morgan Freeman and soon tasked with tracking down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as tropes for his murders.

The film was released by New Line Cinema and it went on to become the seventh-highest-grossing film of 1995, with over $327 million worldwide. The film was also nominated for Best Film Editing at the 68th Academy Awards, but lost out to the film Apollo 13.

Movie opening

Camerawork The use of an aerial shot may have been used for this shot because it could show that the audience is seeing something that other characters in the film may not be. The reason why I believe this is because by using this shot it makes the audience appear as if they are looking down on the situation and almost looking into the action.

The constant change of both camera angles and shots is used to confuse the viewer and to not let them focus on what the true narrative of the opening is.

One of the most commonly used shots within the opening of seven is the use of an extreme close up this may have been used to show small details of the scene as a way of given clues as to who the hands belong to as well as empathising the sharpness of the blade in the shot.

Mise-en-scene Prop:The use of the picture of the two hands may have been used as a shot in the opening of seven in order to use foreshowing to give the audience clues as to what may happen in the film. An example of this is that the hands looked discoloured which could connote that the person maybe dead which creates a creepy atmosphere.

Colour:The use of the black and white throughout opening creates a sense of good and evil as well as a light or dark atmosphere.

Colour:The use of the colours of red and white across the screen of this shot connotes a clash of different people in the film. For example the use of the colour red could represent fear, blood, murder or danger. But the white colour could represent purity and innocence. This also could represent a good vs evil theme in the narrative.

Mise-en scene The black screen in the opening sequence connotes the idea of darkness, loneliness and being alone. This may have been used to show parts of the film narrative.As well as the black and white showing a contrast between light and darkness within the films narrative.

The prop of a picture of a boy is significant in the opening sequence because it is the only time a face is shown in the opening 2 minutes of the film. This is used to increase the mystery in the opening minutes because the audience don’t know who the person is and how they fit to the story.

Lighting

On this shot there is one key spotlight used pointing downward on to one side of the paper, which is giving the shot low key lighting. The spotlight may have been used to represent a prop for example a desk light. Although it’s main purpose is to use the limited light in order to create a dark atmosphere therefore making the audience tense.

Editing

Shadow focus has been used in this shot as a way of connoting mystery because the audience aren’t sure what is being written. As well as create a sense of disorientation for the audience.

A black shot has been used as a way to break up the important shots of the opening sequence. The effect of this on the audience is that it creates confusion for the audience which in turn builds suspense for the viewer. This effect was also created by the use of jump cut and the use of flashing light when ever the shot turned to black.

Sound

Throughout the first opening 2 minutes of seven the sound in the background of the action is Parrell non-diegetic dissonant sound.

Other sound used within the opening is the diegetic sound of the metronome which is Parrell with the shot of the a ticking metronome. This could be used as a way to symbolised the passing of time or a clock.

The use of inconsistent volumes throughout the piece is used to unsettle the audience and making them fearful of what was going to happen.

Iconography

The use of the blood within the shot is an example of a stereotypical prop within a psychological thriller film opening. This is because it symbolises danger for a character within the film. This also link to stereotypical theme of danger for the protagonist in both horror and psychological thriller film.