Nine frame analysis By Bianca Cozma

Se7en (1995)

Frame 1In this frame the title ‘New line cinema presents’, this is significant as it is the first title

that appears, it shows its importance as to who is the company presenting the film. The

open book in the shot could connote that the film is very intellectual and has a lot of

themes like; thought, mystery, intelligence and also secrecy. The appearance of the book

is also very old and used, this could also mean that the book is an important object the

film focuses on.

Frame 2In the second frame, the name of the Director is shown, the image also displays two

hands on what seems to be a project book, this could have been done on purpose to

make the name of the director clear, as two hands working on paper, connote work and

creativity, which the director would have had. The hands look very worked, as in they

look crooked and damaged. They might belong to an elderly person, which also shows

us that the protagonist is an experienced person.

Frame 3 In frame 3 we can see a blade. It connotes danger and can also show anger as it is

associated with weapons. We can see the blade taking off the skin of fingertips, which

this is significant because it is a very weird thing to do, already it shows a sense of

creepiness and secrecy. Taking skin off a fingertip also hides any fingerprint, again, it

will show that something will happen and it will be done in private, without any

witnesses. It also shows mystery.

Frame 4In this frame, the title of the film is visible. We can also see some bandaged fingertips,

again it shows secrecy and the theme of mystery, however it could also show crime,

and because hands are present all throughout the opening, it shows that this is the

main theme of the movie, as hands represent crime because people commit crime

using their hands.

Frame 5In this frame there are no titles present, this could suggest that the focus is on what

happens in the background. We can see some photographs which seem to be taken

when the subject was not looking. This can connote that they are possible victims, it

also creates a sense of horror, as the people are being watched.

Frame 6This shot is the first one that shows a face from up close. It is the face of a young boy,

it’s eyes are crossed with a marker, it shows mystery, and connotes horror as the eyes

are a huge indicative feature to emotion. The fact that it’s eyes are crossed out could

show that the character is a victim, and the person crossing them out could possibly be

the murderer, or killer.

Frame 7Frame includes some paper and pins? In the shot we can see a hand working with

some paper. There are pins stitched against the paper and the fingertips of the hand

are wrapped in bandage. This could show that the person is protecting themselves

from the danger, which is connoted by the pins.

Frame 8This frame portrays the theme of concealment and planning. The stitching of the

paper connotes putting together an idea, a plan. It shows us that this horror film will

be about murder because a murder needs to be planned out. Also, this shows us that

the protagonist is very well organised, as we can see that he makes his own plans and

puts everything together.

Frame 9 This frame is ironic to the whole film opening and the film itself. The word ‘God’ and

it’s meaning are related to peace, unity and holy sense. For example God is someone

many people worship such as Muslims and Christians. The fact that it appears in a

horror movie is significant as it opposes the views of what horror movies are: blood,

gore, mystery and fear. Also, ‘God’ being the only word that is cut out from the

newspaper, shows that the good has been taken away.