In the dark thriller movie Se7en from 1995, one key scene shows detective Somerset digging deep into books at a library to crack the killer’s twisted plan. This quiet moment stands out amid the film’s rain-soaked chases and gruesome crimes, highlighting Somerset’s sharp mind as he pieces together clues from old stories about human sins.
The movie follows two detectives, the experienced Somerset played by Morgan Freeman and the hot-headed Mills played by Brad Pitt, as they hunt a killer named John Doe. Doe bases his murders on the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy, and wrath. Early on, after finding a fat man force-fed to death for gluttony and a lazy guy tied to a bed for a year for sloth, Somerset heads to the library. He pulls books like Dante’s Divine Comedy and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, which describe sins in vivid detail. For more on the film’s plot, check out this breakdown: https://spoilertown.com/se7en-1995/.
Somerset spreads these books across Mills’ desk to help his partner understand the killer’s religious motive. It’s a montage of flipping pages and noting symbols, showing Somerset’s old-school detective work in a world of chaos. This research pays off when they link the crimes to sin themes, like a prostitute killed in a lust trap or a model who picks death over ugliness for pride. The library scene builds tension, proving the killer is smart and preachy, using murders to teach a lesson. Details from the Korean wiki page explain Somerset’s full investigation here: https://en.namu.wiki/w/%EC%84%B8%EB%B8%90(%EC%98%81%ED%99%94).
Later, Somerset even checks library records illegally to find John Doe’s name and address, tying back to his book-hunting skills. Mills learns from this, using similar tricks to search the killer’s apartment, where they find photos and clues changing Doe’s plans. The library moment contrasts the detectives’ styles: Somerset’s calm brains versus Mills’ gut instincts, making their teamwork click.
This scene also nods to hidden details in the film, like symbolic props in each murder tied to sins and hand-made books by the prop team. It ramps up the story toward the shocking end, where Doe forces the final sins on the detectives themselves.
Sources
https://en.namu.wiki/w/%EC%84%B8%EB%B8%90(%EC%98%81%ED%99%94)
https://spoilertown.com/se7en-1995/
https://www.deadlettermovies.com/blog
https://www.avclub.com/david-fincher-blames-the-rain-in-seven-on-el-nino-1851420890
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-stuff-you-should-know-26940277/episode/sysks-12-days-of-christmas-toys-312338290/
