MovieChat Forums > Se7en (1995) Discussion > Was this movie ahead of its time?

Was this movie ahead of its time?


I was watching this film the other day and I have to say that I think it may have been ahead of its time. It does not look or feel like a movie that was released in 1995 at all. The cinematography looks more recent as do the clothing styles. Even the soundtrack to the film feels more recent than it actually is. It's hard to believe that this came out the same year as "Clueless". Perhaps that is what made it so controversial and misunderstood at the time of its release. In many ways, it similar to "Bladerunner" in that sense. Any thoughts on this?

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I've heard the same said about Aliens 3. I think if anything I think David Fincher's style was probably forward thinking. It is hard to believe Se7en is a mid 90's film.

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Alien 3 is a mess, but when you read/watch up on its production and how things happened with Seven, it makes more sense. Fincher was fired several times on Alien 3, and that mostly came from too many suits being involved with it, and him walking out.

I'm guessing you could say back then he was at a point where someone like Zach Snyder is now...both have a very clear 'style' or w/e you want to call it, but the difference is Fincher made it clear very early on that he wouldn't get involved if he wasn't given total control. Snyder simply hasn't done that, and it shows, his movies have a certain look to them, but are overall not very good because way too many people are making creative decisions.

Anyway, listen to some of the commentaries on pretty much any movie he released...the guy is a brilliant photographer more than anything. Every single frame of film, and everything in it, has a reason for being there. He worked directly with the principle photography of Seven as they underlit the entire movie on purpose, forced by him, and if his chemical thing didn't work out...it would've all been lost. I think more than anything his movies look 'expensive', as a lot of resources go into production outside of actors and headlines. That is probably a hard sell for producers, but it has almost always paid off overall.

Just think about it: David Fincher made a movie entirely about Facebook...and it was still awesome. The man is gifted.

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@edwardsullivan4 I'd say that the major reason Se7en doesn't seem dated is, ironically, because it portrays outdated technology:
- Somerset uses a typewriter
- Mills uses a record player
- 911 uses an eight-track recorder

By showing us examples of old technology, as well as whatever was current at the time, it makes it hard to pinpoint when the movie was set, giving it a timeless quality.

Clueless, as I remember it, tried to portray the latest technology, music, and buzzwords. By doing so, it ties itself to that time.

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I feel like your examples are an allusion to the films noire elements.

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I think it definitely was ahead of its time. The visual style, the unusual ending, and especially the look and sound if the opening credits which was copied for years by just about every cop movie and TV show for years afterward. I can't tell you how many movies afterward where I felt like Seven was being ripped off or at least heavily influenced by as I watched them.

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The cinematography and direction in Fincher's work has always been timeless; it undoubtedly ages like fine wine. Needles to say, from a visual standpoint Se7en could easily be mistaken for a modern film. As for other reasons as to why the film feels ahead of its time, one definitely has to be because Se7en has those film noir elements that, when masterfully done, will surely make an impression on viewers decades after said film was released. I also think another important factor is its grim tone which makes the film feel "current" even today (potentially forever).


You want something corny? You got it!

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I think it is, I was watching Copycat the other day which also came out in 1995 and that movie is hilariously dated. So Se7en hit all the right chords and is very much re-watchable 23 years later.

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The film is a modern noir film, which peppered the 80s and 90s and were influenced by film noir from the 40s.

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