5 Things About ‘Se7en’ That Made Zero Sense & 5 Things That Made Perfect Sense

‘Se7en’ is a grim, tight thriller. It moves fast and hits hard. The case feels big, yet it runs on small, careful clues. The ending stays with you.

Still, some parts do not add up. Others feel laser-true to the story and its people. Here are both sides, back to back.

Zero Sense: The Week-Long Timeline Is Too Tight

The case seems to race through a single week. But parts of the plan clearly took far longer. One victim was held for months. Custom tools and props were made. Apartments were scouted.

The film rushes day by day. It sells the pressure. But it also makes the setup look too fast to be real. The calendar feels squeezed.

Perfect Sense: The City’s Rot Serves the Story

The city in ‘Se7en’ is nameless, wet, and loud. Crime feels routine. People keep their heads down. That background pushes Somerset to retire and makes Mills want to fight.

The constant rain, sirens, and grime shape every choice. It traps the detectives in a mood they cannot shake. The setting fits the plot like a glove.

Zero Sense: Doe Moves Around Without Drawing Heat

John Doe shops, rents, hires, and delivers. He meets people, takes photos, and hauls heavy gear. He stays off the radar the whole time.

Some low profile is believable. But this much activity should leave a trail that bites back sooner. The film barely shows that risk.

Perfect Sense: The Seven Sins Motive Is Locked In

Every crime matches a sin. The method fits the message. Nothing is random. Doe is not after money or fame. He wants a sermon with bodies.

This single rule keeps the plot tight. It also guides how the cops think. When they follow the theme, they move. When they miss it, they stall.

Zero Sense: The ‘Sloth’ Setup Stretches Belief

A man is kept alive for roughly a year in a filthy room. Neighbors never force the door. The smell and noise do not end the plan.

Air fresheners hang everywhere, but that fix seems thin. The long, secret care in that place feels hard to buy.

Perfect Sense: Somerset’s Caution Fits His Life

Somerset checks details. He doubts hunches. He reads, visits, and waits. He knows the system and its limits.

His weariness explains his slow pace and careful talk. His style also balances Mills. The partnership makes sense because they cover each other’s gaps.

Zero Sense: The Apartment Break-In and Evidence Chain

The detectives push into Doe’s place fast. What they find is huge. But how that entry and the follow-up would hold in court is fuzzy.

The film nods at legal issues, then moves on. It works for pace, yet the chain of custody feels shaky for such a major case.

Perfect Sense: Mills’ Temper Was Always the Fuse

From the start, Mills snaps. He hates being mocked. He pushes suspects and fights back.

That temper sets up the end. When Doe aims at him, the result feels earned. The last choice is awful, but true to who Mills is.

Zero Sense: The Desert Package Lands at the Perfect Minute

A box arrives in the middle of nowhere at just the right time. It reaches the exact spot while choppers and cars close in.

This timing is too neat. Real delivery windows are messy. Traffic, routes, and delays should risk the plan.

Perfect Sense: Doe’s Prep Explains the Clean Scenes

Doe cuts off his fingerprints. He tracks victims and rehearses steps. He keeps careful notes and turns himself in when it serves his plan.

These moves explain why he stays ahead. The scenes look precise because he is. The story earns that part.

Share your take: which moment in ‘Se7en’ baffled you most—and which one made perfect sense—drop your thoughts in the comments.