The 1995 film Seven (frequently stylized as Se7en) is a crime thriller, helmed by director David Fincher and scripted by Andrew Kevin Walker. The film’s cast includes Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and John C. McGinley.
Taking place in a nameless city plagued by crime, Se7en unfolds its storyline around disillusioned, almost retired detective William Somerset (played by Freeman) and his recently assigned colleague David Mills (portrayed by Pitt). Together, they strive to halt a serial killer’s spree, where the murders are meticulously crafted to mirror the seven deadly sins.
There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this film, but today my aim is to change that…
Here are 21 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know about Se7en
1. Brad Pitt personally selected his own ties for the film. His intention was for the character of Mills to exhibit a lack of fashion sense.
2. During the filming of the scene where Mills pursues John Doe in the rain, Brad Pitt experienced a fall. As a result, his arm went through a car windshield, necessitating surgery. Interestingly, this incident was incorporated into the script. Coincidentally, the initial Se7en script had already included a provision for Detective Mills to sustain injuries during that particular sequence.
3. During the filming of the “sloth” victim scene, the SWAT officers were not informed that the victim was still alive. Consequently, the genuine reaction of surprise from the SWAT officers occurred when the victim suddenly coughed and startled them.
4. The conclusion of Se7en corresponds to the original draft of the screenplay to which the actors and director had committed. However, before filming commenced, producer Arnold Kopelson opted to have it rewritten, involving John Doe kidnapping Tracy, prompting Mills and Somerset to rush to her rescue.
Upon reading the revised ending, David Fincher, Brad Pitt, and Morgan Freeman collectively insisted that the original ending be restored, threatening to withdraw from the project otherwise.
5. The individual restrained to the bed for a year wasn’t portrayed by an animatronic model; rather, a very slender actor was heavily made up to appear even more cadaverous. the crew employed a set of prosthetic teeth to create the illusion of a smaller, shrunken head, indicative of severe malnutrition.
6. Alfonso Freeman (Morgan Freeman’s son) had a cameo in the film (as a fingerprint technician).
7. The makers of Se7en opted for constant rain for two main reasons: It instilled a pervasive sense of foreboding, and it eliminated concerns about unfavorable weather conditions.
8. Denzel Washington declined the role eventually played by Brad Pitt, citing to Entertainment Weekly that he found the film too “dark and evil.” However, Washington later expressed regret over his decision after attending a screening of the movie.
9, Brad Pitt regards Se7en as one of the most flawless films he has ever been a part of.
10. Make-up for the ‘sloth’ victim took over fourteen hours.
11. Every book attributed to John Doe in the film was authentically crafted for the production. It took a span of two months to finalize them, amounting to a cost of $15,000. Morgan Freeman noted that this timeframe aligns with what it would realistically take for the police to thoroughly read through all the books.
12. Andrew Kevin Walker encountered significant challenges in securing a studio to acquire the rights to his script due to being relatively unknown in Hollywood. Reportedly, he compiled a list of agents representing writers specializing in crime and thriller genres, diligently contacting each one until he received a favorable response.
13. The main inspiration for the film’s screenplay stemmed from Andrew Kevin Walker’s experiences while attempting to establish himself as a screenwriter in New York City. Reflecting on his time there, Walker remarked, “I didn’t enjoy my time in New York, but it’s undeniable that if I hadn’t lived there, I probably wouldn’t have written Se7en.”
14. During the gluttony scene, seven crates of cockroaches were unleashed on the set and poured onto Bob Mack (the actor playing the victim). Measures had to be taken to prevent the cockroaches from entering Mack’s ears and nose; however, they still managed to infiltrate his underwear.
15. Se7en‘s ominous and shadowy appearance was accomplished through a chemical technique known as bleach bypass. This process retained the silver in the film stock, resulting in intensified darkness and shadows throughout the movie.
16. Se7en was the seventh highest grossing film of 1995.
17. Brad Pitt mentioned that one motivation for accepting this role was his desire “to break away from the cheesiness” following his involvement in the 1994 film Legends of the Fall.
18. During the filming of the greed scene, Gene Borkan (who portrayed the victim) was tied up and clad only in his underwear for the majority of the shoot. He was drenched in over two gallons of artificial blood, which was so dense and adhesive that his knees adhered to the floor.
19. The diner where Somerset and Tracy rendezvous is identical to the one depicted in Training Day where Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke meet. Interestingly, they even occupy adjacent booths. This diner is situated in downtown LA and is known as the Quality Coffee Shop.
20. In the scene preceding Mills and Somerset’s entrance into the District Attorney’s office, the camera focuses on a newspaper headline detailing the murder. Additionally, there are smaller articles on the front page, including one reporting on a “Housekeeper Held Hostage By Child’s Possessed Gerbil” and another about a “Neighbor’s Beagle Scaring Teen, Curing 8-Year Bout With Hiccups.”
21. Se7en was made on a budget of $30 million and grossed more than $327 million worldwide.
Well, there you have it, 21 interesting facts you might not have known about Se7en. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.
Check out the trailer for the film below:
You can stream the film on Amazon Prime Video.
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