1. Analysis of the opening to Seven
Use of camera
The use of the camera is very important in an intense thriller like Seven. From the first scene where
detective Somerset is in his flat the camera is tracking his movement as he gets changed to go to
work. A tracking shot in this case makes the scene more interesting and gives it some importance.
As we learn from the camera shot’s that Somerset’s flat is very tidy and organised. At the murder
scene the camera is just panning around the characters and not tracking them as the camera is at
one end of the hallway focusing on the characters in this building where the victim has been found.
There is a very important scene between detective Somerset and Mills where the camera is being
used in a crab shot. This is where the camera is moving right or left following the characters. This
scene is when you are introduced to the 2 main characters of the film having a conversation. The
crab shot emphasises the importance of this conversation and sets the rest of the film in motion.
Sound
In this particular thriller there is a massive amount of diegetic sound involved. The beginning of the
first scene is a classic example as you can hear Detective Somerset’s neighbours arguing very loudly
even when they are not in the room. There are classic noises you would associate with a big and
busy city. The noises you hear are from all different types of transport you would expect to hear in
everyday life when live in a city. In contrast to the director’s use of soundtrack in this opening
sequence is used very minimally. However there the use of soundtrack is used very productively in
the title sequence and is used to very good effect to establish a very interesting opening to a great
thriller.
Mise-en-scene

2. The Mise-en-scene is very important in any type of film as it reveals many different pieces of
information about the characters and the surrounding background. Detective Somerset is
represented as a very simple man. This is very clear to see from where he lives. His flat is obviously
nowhere near luxurious as you can hear his neighbours arguing through his paper thin walls. This
represents a man who cannot afford a finer property. Somerset is also represented as organised and
extremely tidy. He is organised as he has his equipment he needs for work laid out in order for him
to pick up. The fact that his flat is incredibly tidy suggests that he lives alone and is at work or out
almost every hour of the day. Somerset is also represented as a caring man. We notice this at the
murder scene when he asks “did the kid see it”. This is almost not needed but the director has
deliberately intended this. In contrast to his partner for the seven days Detective Mills who is the
complete opposite to Somerset. Mills is represented to be very cocky and arrogant. You can see this
in his appearance as his shirt is creased and not tucked in. He is made to look very sloppy and
uncaring about his appearance. You can tell Mills is very cocky and arrogant in his body language as
he seems lazy and doesn’t care too much about his job.
Editing
There is a very revealing piece of information we understand more clearly with a particular
crosscutting scene between Somerset and a fellow police officer. The crosscutting scene occurs
when Somerset is at the murder scene at the beginning of the film. We learn from this clever piece
of crosscutting that the rest of the police department that Somerset works with undoubtedly dislike
him and can’t wait for him to retire.
Conclusion
Overall the opening of this thriller film engages the audience very well. It engages us because it
leaves us with questions unanswered. I think this particular film establishes the characters very well
because of the fact that there are 2 very different main characters. Somerset who was established

3. first, in his flat and is established as being a very lonely old man. Whereas Mills is established as
being young and cocky and very confident in his job. The opening to Seven introduces a
horror/thriller film with a possible serial killer involved as there is a murder scene at the beginning of
the film.