Seven - Cinematography

Thrillers and horror films constantly use cinematography to make the audience feel more in the film and more scared. The film Seven uses it for just that purpose. The camera is constantly strengthening your feelings throughout the story. In chase scenes the camera movement and cutting is swift, the image is often blocked by walls and doors and people just as the view of Brad Pitt is.

When the detectives enter the home of Kevin Spacey, the camera shots are close in to give the audience a stronger sense of the tight quarters all the detectives are in. The lighting is very dim with a lot of red lighting. It gives the audience an idea of just how erie the apartment is, and how unpleasant it is to be in there. The shots don't show the audience what is around the corner, just as the detectives don't know what's around it. It creates an element of suspense, and makes their discoveries even more important.

In the scene when Brad Pitt is chasing Kevin Spacey throughout the apartment building, the shots are quick, and are all from Brad Pitt's point of view. You still cannot see around corners and you only get quick glimpses of where Kevin Spacey is headed. Citizens get in the way of your view and it frustrates you just as it must Brad Pitt's character.

In the scene of the first murder, the lighting is extremely dim, and the shots are close, just like the shots in Kevin Spacey's home. However, you get a different feeling because the color of the lighting is more green instead of the intense red of Spacey's home. You get more of a sick and depressed feeling when watching this scene instead of a suspenseful one like in Spacey's home. Which is parallel with what the actual content of the scenes is.

Cinematography is used in every scene to intensify what the audience is seeing and hearing. In this movie in particular, it often sets a mood of depression and uneasiness. It is used to give the audience a better understanding of what these characters are feeling. It is meant to bring the audience as much into the scene as possible.