3 Examples Of Neo Noir: 2 Se7en

2. 1995 David Fincher’s Se7en

In an unknown city in America set in the mid 1990s Detective William Somerset played by Morgan Freeman, is about to retire. A week before he is due to leave he is partnered with Detective David Mills played by Brad Pitt, a young, arrogant and upstart from another town. They two don’t get on at all, as they both have different ways of policing. Their first case together is to investigate the murder of a very obese man who was fed spaghetti until a kick to his stomach burst him. Their next case is of a murdered lawyer called Eli Gould, played by Gene Borkan, whose had the word ‘greed’ written out in blood. What seems like an isolated murder soon becomes serial when the partnership discover the word ‘gluttony’ written behind the fridge at the crime scene of the obese victim. Establishing that the killer is murdering in the name of the seven deadly sins, the detectives decide that they will find the killer quicker if they put their differences aside and try to get along. In doing this, Detective Somerset meets Detective Mills’ wife Tracy played by Gwyneth Paltrow, and the two strike up a close friendship. However what the threesome do not realise is that the killer John Doe played by Kevin Spacey, is taking a special interest in them.

Both lead male protagonists display the typical characteristics of the men found in film noir. Detective Somerset is mentally tortured by the decimation of his marriage and family and has become bitter by being surrounded by the crime and deviance of the city he works – hence why he wishes to retire and move away at the start of the film. And Detective Mills is angry, aggressive and ambitious and doesn’t always stick to the rules – he repeatedly shoots John Doe after learning about his wife’s death.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s character of Tracy Mills also conforms to the loyal and loving housewife found in classic film noir that contrasts the femme fatale.