## Se7en: A Revelation in IMAX
David Fincher’s *Se7en*, a thirty-year-old masterpiece, offers a poignant lesson on what the film industry has lost. This week’s limited IMAX release, celebrating its 30th anniversary and preceding a 4K release, provided a compelling opportunity to revisit this classic. Having missed the original theatrical run, and with my last viewing nearly two decades ago, I was eager to experience *Se7en* on the grand IMAX scale. The near-capacity crowd in my Montreal screening was a testament to the enduring appeal of cinematic classics, particularly in enhanced formats—a trend reflected in the success of recent re-releases like *Interstellar* and *Star Wars: The Phantom Menace*.
Concerns arose regarding potential alterations to the film’s visual style. Fincher, known for his meticulous approach and advocacy for digital video (evident in his post-*Zodiac* work and championed in the documentary *Side by Side*), oversaw the 4K transfer. *Se7en*, originally shot on 35mm film using Super 35 and a bleach bypass process for select prints, lacked this unique look in earlier home video releases. Thankfully, the restoration is superb, showcasing pristine quality while retaining the inherent film grain. The result is breathtaking, avoiding the revisionist tendencies seen in some other films; *Se7en* looks better than ever, yet undeniably retains its 1995 aesthetic.
My viewing experience was bittersweet. The film’s unflinching nihilism and dark subject matter struck me as remarkably incompatible with the current cinematic landscape. While a director of Fincher’s stature might still push such a project (though facing social media scrutiny), it’s highly improbable a major studio would greenlight such a bleak, uncompromising vision from an unproven director in today’s climate. In 1995, such films were almost commonplace. But even a strong year for cinema in 2024 fails to produce a film with the impact and artistic merit of *Se7en*. The industry has gravitated towards safer, more palatable narratives, making a film of its caliber unthinkable in the age of “second-screen content.” Its success, reaching the top ten highest-grossing films of 1995, is even more astounding in retrospect. While comparisons could be made to modern films like *Long Legs*, it’s an entirely different beast, akin to comparing a romantic comedy to an unflinching, brutal thriller. The modern social media landscape would undoubtedly have a field day with *Se7en*’s content, creating a vastly different discourse than the one it experienced in 1995; a time where, while the film was certainly controversial, critical engagement respected Fincher’s vision, even if initially negative reactions eventually shifted to appreciation. Today, the reaction might be considerably more visceral, with negative responses dominating online discussions.
Ultimately, witnessing *Se7en* on the IMAX screen is highly recommended. The theatrical experience is captivating, and I eagerly await the 4K release. The film’s strong weekend box office performance (nearly a million dollars on just 200 screens, sharing showtimes with *Nosferatu*), underscores a crucial point: audiences still crave thought-provoking, challenging cinema. Studios once allowed directors to create ambitious, even controversial, films on a grand scale, without fearing the potential backlash. *Se7en*’s enduring popularity and its ability to fill theaters three decades later serve as a reminder that not every movie needs to be comforting; sometimes, audiences seek something darker, more profound, and ultimately, more rewarding.