I wasn't certain what to expect when I first saw Seven. I had missed most of the initial ads, so all I knew going in was that the title referred to the Deadly Sins. I was prepared for something gimmicky.

As it turned out, Seven was anything but a gimmick. Or, perhaps it would be better to say that Seven transcends the gimmick of entwining the Seven Deadly Sins with the motives of a serial killer.

The opening shots set the tone for a movie that is subtle and somber, yet still manages to get in your face with a powerful emotional punch. I could easily see the same material in this film coming across as cheesy, but Seven proves that good writing, good acting and good directing can turn a formula concept into something fresh and unique.

We come into the story during the final days in the career of homicide detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman). Somerset is a careful and deliberate man, as evidenced in the rituals he goes through every morning to prepare for work. We can also feel that Somerset is tired and if he isn't already, he's on the verge of simply going through the motions. As a cop, he's seen it all (or at least he thinks so) and he's ready to leave the game.

We're also introduced to Detective Mills (Brad Pitt). He's young, fresh and just transferred to Somerset's precinct in the hopes of working some exciting cases. Mills is smart and somewhat experienced, but Somerset can also see that the kid still has a lot to learn.

The two detectives find themselves investigating a case of an immensely overweight man who was forced to eat, literally, until he burst. A strange method of murder, to be sure, but at first the two detectives don't think much of it beyond that. Then more murders occur, each as graphic, or more so, as the murder of the obese man and each seeming to make some sort of point. The detectives quickly link the murders to the Seven Deadly Sins (Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, Sloth and Wrath) and realize that they are dealing with a serial killer. The killer seems to be making an example people that he feels embodies each sin.

Somerset wants nothing to do with the case and more than that, he doesn't want Mills thrust into it either. Still, both of them wind up in the middle of it and the ramifications to both characters are staggering. The killer, deranged as he is, also seems to be something of a genius and he manages to manipulate the detectives in almost every way possible. The final moments of the film are startling and horrifying, and yet they perfectly follow the pace set forth thus far. Like the detectives, we realize far too late that the killer is in control and the detectives are just there to help prove his points.

Without revealing any more than I already have, I'd like to point out that his movie does not end on a happy note. I'm pleased that the pressure to create a standard Hollywood ending was resisted - this film would have been ruined if it had backed off in the last reel. As is, it maintains its power right up until the final fadeout. We aren't told that all of the characters lived happily ever after because, frankly, that's not how real life works sometimes.

New Line initially released Seven back in the very early days of DVD. The disc was one of the dreaded "flippers," meaning that half way through the movie you had to flip the disc over. In addition to being a flipper, it was also pretty bare bones in the way of content. All in all, it was a pretty dismal treatment for such a great film. It wasn't long after that New Line became one of DVD's biggest friends by releasing exceptional special editions (the Platinum Series) that were quite often less expensive than other studios' no-frills discs. People began to wonder if New Line would revisit Seven. The answer is a resounding yes.

This Platinum Series edition of Seven is a two-disc set that comes in packaging emulating the killer's notebooks. The animated menus screens also carry this look, as well as the "sketchy," jumpy look of the film's credits. Disc one is enough by itself to qualify as a special edition, as in addition to the film, it includes not one, but four audio commentaries and the film's script in DVD-ROM content.