SE7EN

While most DVDs have special features that allow the viewer access into the minds of the filmmakers, the new "Se7en" (or "Seven") DVD allows the viewer access into the mind of its most frightening character, John Doe (Kevin Spacey). The film follows two detectives (Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt) as they hunt for Doe, a maniacal serial killer "punishing" those who have broken one of the seven deadly sins. While the film's graphic images are unsettling enough, the supplemental material on Disc Two of the recently released DVD explores the psychological side of the murders and the murderer in a way the actual film would never be able to.\nWe are introduced to Doe's demented mindset when the two detectives break into his apartment. Dark and dreary like the killer himself, the room is home to a wall full of Mead Composition notebooks, filled with Doe's writing. The bathroom acts as a darkroom, where Doe has made and kept hundreds of pictures of his victims. In the most alarming and terrifying feature on the DVD, detail after grotesque detail of the notebooks and photos are revealed, as the viewer delves deeper into the mind of Doe than one would ever care to. The words and images are absolutely repellent by nature; but if you can stand them, the features are worth watching, if only to see the degree to which director David Fincher went to fully create his killer's character and habits.\nThe rest of Disc Two is filled with less disgusting bonus material, namely extended scenes and a look at the making of the film. All of the alternate scenes, including an alternate opening, can be watched with commentary from Fincher. Of course, at the heart of any DVD is the film itself, and regardless of how many special features a DVD has, they will be worthless if not complimenting a great film. Well acted and well written, this psychological thriller unfolds at a steady pace, allowing its viewer enough time to put together each clue, but not enough to get bored. If you can stand the horrific images that drive the plot, this nail-biting mystery should not be missed.