Textual Analysis: Se7en

In the opening of Se7en there is a variety of different shots used, when the main character (played by Morgan Freeman) is collecting his things to connotes that his life somehow revolves around precision or being organised. An over the shoulder shot is used when Freeman is adjusting his tie, this shows that he takes pride in his appearance and looking precise. When both Freeman and the other detective (played by Brad Pitt) are walking down the street, Freeman always seems to be walking slightly in front of him, showing that Freeman is more important/ has a more authoritative position in his occupation. When Freeman is laying in his bed there is a continuous ticking noise coming from the metronome, this could connote that his characters time is running out and possibly foreshadow an event further on in the film. During the opening credits of the opening there are many different types of camera shots, there are many close ups in the opening credits which show what is happening and to give insight as to what is going to happen later on in the film.

In the opening of the scene there is use of high key lighting, this is to show that the movie starts in equilibrium as nothing has gone wrong and everything seems okay, but this changes once Freeman leaves to go to work as suddenly the saturation decreases and low key lighting is used as a dead body covered in blood is revealed. The clothing that each of the detectives wear help build the characters personalities. Freeman's character is wearing a suit, which shows that he is smart and sophisticated, on the other hand, Pitt's character wears a more casual smart outfit consisting of a shirt and tie with a leather jacket, showing that he is more relaxed compared to the other.

Throughout the opening scene of the film there is lots of diegetic sound used, this shows that the film is set in a busy environment. Some of the diegetic sounds used include footsteps and police sirens, this shows that there is a lot of crime where the film is set and that thy have busy jobs. When Freeman is in his room and the metronome is ticking, the diegetic sound is enhanced, this emphasizes how quiet his room is and that time is passing around him. During the title sequence there are a lot of discordant sounds and use of interference, this fits with the genre of the film as it is unsettling and makes the audience uncomfortable.

In general the editing of the opening scene is fast paced, this can be shown by the use of jump cuts and cutaways, which connotes that the rest of the film will be fast paced as well. In the title sequence there is a lot of editing used, such as using monochrome colours which creates a sinister undertone to it. The opening sequences editing gives the audience an idea of what the rest of the film will be like, for example the use of white text on a black background makes it stand out. The typography used in the title sequence also hints towards that the film will be about. The font used for the opening of the film looks hand written and scruffy, which creates an eerie vibe for the film. The montage that is shown during the title sequence also gives us an idea of what the film is about and what the villain's objective is. The montage consists of small clips which creates mystery as you do not get a clear idea of what is happening creating an unsettles mood.