Narrative Theory in Se7en

• The story is told in a chronological order
• The run of time is made clear, by the seperation of the days: Each day is marked in the scenes with typography.
• Heavy use of enigma codes- throughout most of the film you are trying to work out who the killer is, then after he reveals himself; you are still trying to solve the issue of the last two  murders. 
  
• The mise-en-scene is used throughout to connote tension, suspicion and darkness
• Pathetic fallacy is used. During most of the film, outside is rainy, grey and drab. This represents the slow, painful process of the investigation. The climax is out in the hot desert, to show the rising heat of the tension, and a sense of dryness (reflecting John Doe's lack of empathy.)
• It is narrated through the perspective of our main officers, Mills and Somerset. This offers us a closed narrative; as in we only ever know as much as they do.

• This restricted narrative is a common genre convention of thrillers. As is the fast paced score.
• The main protagonist is very conventional. However, our other protagonist is an anti- Hero, as Pitt's character embodies traits usually deemed negative. Examples of this are his wrath and quick temper.