Se7en Opening (1995)

Se7en

Mise en scene;

Props – in this particular opening props are one of the most important features of mise en scene. At the start we see a hand holding a garlic shaver to which the person shaves of the skin on their fingertips, suggesting they are a criminal that doesn’t want to leave fingerprints. Furthermore we see books being scribbled on and highlighted, words like transsexuals and sexual intercourse are focused in upon and we get the sense of a creepy perverse person.

The fact that there is no sense of setting makes us feel lost and unaware of where we are. This means that nobody knows where the criminal is, this creates an enigma for the audience. Furthermore the fact that we see nothing of the person’s facial expression or any part of them except the fingertips gives us a sub-human impression of the person and again creates another enigma as we are curious to know who the person is and what all of the things in the sequence mean.

Camera Shot/Movement;

We see a close up of the pen blacking out someone’s eyes on a photograph, we do not know what this means or who it is and are left curious. Furthermore an important way of communicating with a person is through the eyes and by taking this away wipes out an important element of humanity.

The various close ups that we get of props like the books and pen suggest that the criminal is a calculated and educated person. This makes them more dangerous as they will be much more articulate and clever in their crime.

Editing;

The titles are wobbly and have a scratchy font like scribbles. The sharpness of the font could have connotations of danger and psychotic behaviour since it seems frenzied. It has this pattern throughout anchoring this idea of the person being calculated.

Sound;

The non-diegetic sound is wordless, showing that the person is isolated. It becomes more frenzied at the end contrasting from the beginning when the person read books and made notes leading up to the end, where the person feels ready to do whatever he/she has planned. The only lyrics in it are the words ‘you get me closer to God’ which anchors the seven deadly sins which the film centres around.