First Look At An Analysis Of se7en

Decoding the narrative strand beneath a dark and compelling thriller.

Earlier this week I presented the Narrative First approach to Dramatica. Over the years I found an increased level of Audience engagement when I queried a favorite film from the attendees. Opening their eyes to an enlightened understanding of why they were so drawn to the work inspires a level of comprehension not found in a straight presentation.

The head of this development company initially chose Forrest Gump. Knowing the narrative of that film to be propaganda at best[^jenny], I asked for his second favorite.

se7en was his next choice.

Disregarding the considerable leap in Genre Reception between a heartfelt character study and a dark and terrifying thriller, I jumped at the opportunity.

For years, I used the ending sequence of se7en as an excellent example what it looks like when a narrative presents a Story Outcome of Failure and a Story Judgment of Bad. The combination of these two story points form the foundation for all Tragedies and help communicate the Meaningful Ending intended by the Author.

While I work on the professional story analysis of the film, I offer the whiteboard from the presentation—completely aware of its resemblance to page out of one of John Doe’s journals.

[^jenny]: Jenny changes her Resolve after she finds out she is going to die of AIDS. A more meaningful—and compelling narrative—would find her making that change before the diagnosis.