Mise-en-scène in the opening scene of Se7en shows the differences in Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt's characters through their costumes. Freeman's neat suit implies he is professional while Pitt's open jacket hints at his youth. Freeman's tidy apartment further reflects his possible OCD. The unsettling soundtrack and a diegetic metronome in Freeman's bedroom foreshadow the film's disturbing content and explore his character's potential OCD. Through editing, camera angles, and quick scene transitions, the opening establishes the professional and urgent nature of solving these horrific crimes.