Se7en Analysis...

The opening title sequence stops approx 6:15

During this analysis I am going to look into the denotations and connotations of the opening title sequence of the film 'Se7en'. The film begins with a small taster of the film, showing the main codes and conventions in which the film includes. For example: the setting of the film, the time period and the genre of the film.

In the first section of the opening title sequence to this film the audience first meet Detective Somerset, and the environment in which he lives in. When the audience first see the house in which Somerset lives in, the first impressions of it are rather neat and tidy, there is no mess. The house comes across as being almost too tidy, it doesn’t look lived in. The window is the only focus on light in the first shot, and the blinds in which have been used could be a connotation to the idea of prison bars, maybe representing that this character feels trapped. The dark lighting used makes the scene come across and quite cold, it isn’t warm and cosy, which a typically should be. Maybe the character also feels that the outside is imposing on him. The chessboard at the front of the camera shot may connote the idea of perfection; the idea that he feels he always needs to improve himself and his skills. Then in the next shot he begins to lay everything out neatly, everything is in order, maybe showing that he feels everything has to have a place, it could up the way in which he feels he works best; routine. The audience understand that he is a police officer, or has some link to the police as he has a police badge. The character Somerset also comes across as noticing the little things, for example to small bit of fluff that he picks off his coat which may connote that he wants everything perfect.

In the second section of the opening sequence of ‘Se7en’, the audience begin to understand that Detective Somerset seems to care about the small points of life as well, for example, he asks if the children had seen the murder, showing that he cares for others and how it could of actually happened. When the audience first meet Detective Mills, the first impressions of him mainly come from his appearance. He has an un-ironed shirt which may connote to the idea of him maybe being in a rush or unorganised; he is also chewing gum, which may give the audience the idea of him not taking his job seriously. Detective Mills also has basketballs on his tie, meaning he isn’t dressed smartly, this may connote the idea of being a little confident and maybe even ‘cocky’ compared to the other detective Somerset. Detective Somerset’s uniform is neat, tidy and comes across as being ready to work; he is wearing a waist coat and suit, which represents the stereotypical detective image. Detective Somerset is wearing a hat which signifies importance and glasses which connote intelligence. When both characters start walking down the road, the setting behind them looks a quite urban setting as there are many buildings behind them and there is a lot of diegetic sound in the background. As they walk down the stairs, people in the street seem to push past them without bothering to say sorry, which may be a connotation to the idea that people in this area are quite rude, haven’t been brought up properly, maybe showing it isn’t a high class area; it’s quite rough. The other point in which links to this statement is the idea that these two detectives have just come out of a crime scene and no one seems shocked or surprised, this may show that crime is involved in this idea a lot, it’s a common event that takes place in this area. The weather in the background makes the scene could dark and gloomy, creating a dark urban atmosphere of a city, which may connote the general mood in which the city gives. There is also the sound of a police siren in the background which again connotes the idea of crime to the audience.

In the next change of scene, the audience begin to see what type of relationship Detective Mills and Detective Somerset have. They seem to be almost fighting for the lead, within the conversation, they almost battle it out to see who can get in front of who when walking down the urban street set. Somerset ends and leaves the conversation between him and Mills, showing that he was in control of that conversation. Then the setting changes to Somerset’s bedroom, it is dark with unpacked boxes in the background, connoting he hasn’t had time, maybe busy during work instead. There are books in the back, which may connote intelligence. The flicking of the clock shows that he may find it hard to go to sleep; he needs to maybe get into a rhyme before he sleeps as he has too many things on his mind.

Then the opening credits begin, this includes the casting, actors, music, costume designer, production designer, director, co-producer, who it was written by and producer. The writing used is edgy and sharp, maybe connoting danger. The images and fonts are also quite distorted, this could be to give the idea of something being hard to see, connoting the idea of mystery. The music starts quite slow with a slow beat, then it begins to speed up towards the end and says, ‘you got me closer to God’, connoting the idea of death, being in hell or heaven. Sound of a razor is also in this sequence, which can be a connotation of sharp objects and blood. The images flash, and are of either dead people or injured people, showing that this film may be about crime and death. The idea of cutting different pieces of paper may give the idea of trying to cut different parts of different stories to have the solution, which again connotes the thought of crime and police. The objects used in this part of the opening title sequence are the sound of razors, the image of a needle and a sharp object that seems to be cutting through skin, connoting that this film could be the genre of a thriller or crime related film.

Overall, in this analysis I feel that I have given a strong description of the denotations and connotations of the title sequence of the film, ‘Se7en’.