Among the dozens of chilling lines delivered by Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton) in “Mindhunter,” one of the most instructive for understanding David Fincher’s filmography is Kemper’s simple definition of the serial killer: “people who hunt other people for a vocation.”
READ MORE: The Essentials: The Films Of David Fincher Ranked
The shockingly blunt description ascribes a perverse professionalism to a murderer’s deluded violence. Still, it’s also a useful way of looking at Fincher’s career-defining portrayals of killers and the investigators who would more-or-less ruin their lives trying to apprehend and comprehend that which cannot be. Obsessive skill is on display at every level—from the ritual violence to the ensuing psychological profiling to the storytelling itself.
With Fincher turning 60 on Aug. 28, Be Reel clicks on its flashlight and descends down the shadowy hallway of the director’s serial killer cinema. Though one could argue that “Alien 3” (1992) is its own kind of murder spree depiction, our journey, of course, begins with “Se7en” (1995). We dig into what makes this an all-time Morgan Freeman performance and dissect how Fincher uses his camera to galvanize and then cleave apart the two detectives chasing an Old Testament-avenging murderer. Then, it’s on to “Zodiac” (2007), as we break down the film’s ironically outstanding rewatchability, the seeds of doubt it plants alongside every clue, and whether Robert Downey Jr. has ever been better in a movie. And while there is some “Mindhunter” talk sprinkled in, the case closes with “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” (2011). Here, we assess the adaptation’s bizarrely bifurcated plots and how it draws up a psychological profile not just of a killer but an entire nation.
Of course, Fincher seems like the last person in the entire world who would support two podcasters commemorating his birthday. But for us (to paraphrase Det. William Somerset of “Se7en”), the act itself has meaning. Listen below.
Be Reel is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes Bingeworthy, Deep Focus, Yellowstoners, The Fourth Wall, and The Discourse. All our podcasts can be heard on iTunes, AnchorFM, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the Spotify embed within the article or click on the lead image at the top page. Follow us on iTunes, and you’ll get this podcast as well as our other shows regularly. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.
