4. Se7en (1995) (Dir. David Fincher)
Look closely at Se7en and you’ll see a story you’ve glimpsed a dozen times before: An optimistic rookie and his older, wiser and much more cynical partner attempt to solve a seemingly impossible police investigation. David Fincher, however, makes it all seem fresh again through a combination of expert direction, a dark, clinical shooting style and his preference for the nihilistic. Both Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt offer sensational performances, but it’s Andrew Kevin Walker’s script that really bites: the final twenty minutes will fix you to your seat, and by the time the film reveals its dark heart in the form of a truly sick twist, you’ll be left feeling shocked and utterly drained.