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Original poster

Settle an argument for me on the film Seven

27 replies

Deedeedocket · 28/03/2021 16:54

Watched it last night forgot what a brilliant film it is.

I believe Detective Mills wouldn’t have gone to prison. But would no longer be in the police/ be in a mental health facility.

DS, 18, all seeing all knowing says that yes he would have. He would have been charged with murder. As John Doe was unarmed at the time.

Who is right?

OP posts:
steff13 · 28/03/2021 16:59

He would have been charged, yes. Whether he would have gone to prison is a more complicated question. Would he have been found mentally incompetent at the time of the crime? Would a jury have found him guilty (especially of murder)?

EveryoneHatesKVN · 28/03/2021 17:04

I watched it last night too! He would be charged with murder but could plead loss of control/diminished responsibility which would reduce his charge to manslaughter and that carries anything from suspended sentence to life (but this is English law...don’t know the specifics of American!)

jusdepamplemousse · 28/03/2021 17:05

Unlikely to have been found guilty of murder in the UK - manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility or provocation. Not necessarily incurring a prison sentence.

US have different offences but not guilty of murder in first degree anyway I should think.

Original poster
Deedeedocket · 28/03/2021 17:07

Ds was disappointed you don’t actually get to se spoiler alert the head in the box.

He said anything could be in there.

OP posts:
steff13 · 28/03/2021 17:09

Here in the US, he could be charged with both murder and manslaughter and then it would be up to the jury decide if he was guilty of either of those crimes. The caveat to that being each state has its own laws, and where I live in Ohio that would be the case.

NiceGerbil · 28/03/2021 17:09

Diminished responsibility type thing surely.

Anyway

In the USA they'd have him as a hero not a murderer surely? He stopped a serial killer. Here too as well probably. Temporary imbalance due to extreme circs..
I've not seen the film for ages but he executes him after his wife's head in the box I think my answer is based on that

Earlybirdcatches · 28/03/2021 17:11

I don’t think a US jury or judge would have given him a custodial sentence under the circumstances.

Nameitychangity · 28/03/2021 17:18

He would have been charged.
And that's the whole point of the set up by John Doe. He wants David to 'become wrath' thereby completing the cycle of the seven deadly sins he has planned so meticulously.
David knows he will be punished but his wrath is so overpowering that he kills John Doe anyway.
John Doe wins the game.

BetsyBigNose · 28/03/2021 17:46

I haven't watched this in years, so just searched to see where I could see it and it's available on Amazon Prime, but only until midnight on Monday night - so if anyone wants to watch it for free (and they have Amazon Prime), time is of the essence!

WickedWitchOfTheEast87 · 28/03/2021 17:47

He would have been charged for sure but whether he was convicted I'm not too sure. In the UK he probably would be charged with Manslaughter but with diminished responsibility or under extreme provocation. Not too sure how the US Criminal Justice System would handle the charges but well and truly David did the world a favour and got rid of scumbag serial killer I'd be surprised if a jury convicted him and a judge sent him to prison. I reckon he'd lose his job and end up on probation for a few years

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 28/03/2021 17:49

Im sure that ive seen a version where you do see the head in the box...did i dream that?

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 28/03/2021 17:54

Hm, no idea how things would play out in America.

What was that line -

Police officer: 'Nothing nearby, just a load of litter and a dead dog'
[Everyone looks at Doe],
Doe: 'That wasn't me.'

Loved that. Grin

Original poster
Deedeedocket · 28/03/2021 18:16

It’s also on Netflix.

Kevin Spacey is such a good actor, but what an absolute cunt in everyday life. A friend of mine worked with him at The Globe, his behaviour was apparently an open secret.

OP posts:
ShinyMe · 28/03/2021 18:20

Well, the bloke was unarmed and surrendering, which doesn't count in his favour. But the only witness was Somerset, and he was provoked. I think he would certainly have been tried, and he was certainly guilty of something, but whether he'd go to prison... I'm not so sure.

alltoomuchrightnow · 28/03/2021 18:23

?? am sure you never see the head. I saw this in the cinema when first out.
these days I'd quite happily see Gwynnie's head in a box ;) Preferably a Goop one...

Suzi888 · 28/03/2021 18:26

@Nameitychangity

He would have been charged. And that's the whole point of the set up by John Doe. He wants David to 'become wrath' thereby completing the cycle of the seven deadly sins he has planned so meticulously. David knows he will be punished but his wrath is so overpowering that he kills John Doe anyway. John Doe wins the game.
^^ agree
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 28/03/2021 18:27

@alltoomuchrightnow

?? am sure you never see the head. I saw this in the cinema when first out. these days I'd quite happily see Gwynnie's head in a box ;) Preferably a Goop one...
Maybe it was actually a vagina candle in the box Grin
StillCounting123 · 28/03/2021 18:30

iremembertheelderlykoreanlady I too am sure I saw a version with the head in the box!!! Reading this thread like Confused wondering why people had said they hadn't seen it!

Absolutely class film. Going to have to dig it out and re-watch it.

HopeClearwater · 28/03/2021 18:33

It’s a horrible, horrible film? Why was it the woman who suffered for the man’s lust with that nasty contraption? Whoever thought up that is sick in the head?

HopeClearwater · 28/03/2021 18:34

Full stop not question mark at the end there ...

SmidgenofaPigeon · 28/03/2021 18:49

I thought there was a really fleeting shot of her head all bloody in the box, like you see blood-clumped blonde hair? My mind obviously just filled that in for me Blush

All through the film, you only ever see Gwynnie’s character from the head and shoulders up, as a foreshadow to what is to come Wink

It’s a brilliant film.

YawnyOwl · 28/03/2021 18:51

WHAT'S IN THA BOX

Pedallleur · 28/03/2021 19:03

He is manipulated by the Spacey character, both policeman are. Morgan Freeman knows this when the box arrives and that the killer wants to be killed. A good lawyer would prob get the detective time in rehab.

Original poster
Deedeedocket · 28/03/2021 19:07

I saw it at the cinema when it came out and I thought there was a shot of some blonde hair.

I remember everyone walking out in complete silence like what the fuck was that.

OP posts:
AcornAutumn · 28/03/2021 19:08

@Nameitychangity

He would have been charged. And that's the whole point of the set up by John Doe. He wants David to 'become wrath' thereby completing the cycle of the seven deadly sins he has planned so meticulously. David knows he will be punished but his wrath is so overpowering that he kills John Doe anyway. John Doe wins the game.
Yes

He'd be charged but possibly not guilty by reason of insanity?

Or diminished responsibility, whatever the equivalent is in the US?

Very clever film. Very disturbing though. You might also be interested in Zodiac but those murders are real so perhaps harder to stomach.