In modern cinema, few filmmakers have quite had a distinct impact on the medium quite like David Fincher. Known for his twisted and cerebral thrillers and dramas, Fincher first rose to prominence with the shocking and haunting thriller Seven starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman before going on to some ’90s cult classics such as Fight Club and The Game and later more prestige fare such as The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Despite having crafted accessible mainstream fare in recent years, Fincher is most celebrated for his more horror-based roots, and some of his recent output has honored his beginnings, most notably his Netflix-produced series Mindhunter, and the episode he directed for Love, Death and Robots season three (a series he also produces for Netflix), “Bad Travelling.” While many have resonated with Fincher’s recent works, several fans have longed for a return to the more primal and visceral territory that has defined some of his best work (Seven and Panic Room) and been seen in the sci-fi horror Alien 3.
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With a track record of orchestrating a truly captivating horror thriller, and with his horrifying episode of Love, Death and Robots indicating a return to the genre, it’s clear that Fincher would make a phenomenal return to horror cinema. Here’s why this one-time master of the genre should once again take a swing at it and give audiences something to squirm to the edge of their seats for.
Fincher’s Adept at the Cat and Mouse Game
New Line Cinema
The tradition of the cat and mouse game between killer and detective is a trope often seen in many modern crime and horror films. Few have had such an adept handle on it than Fincher, who took it to new and nerve-racking heights in his films Seven and Zodiac. Fincher surprisingly relies less on gore and sensation and more on the mind games and manipulations that drive his protagonists toward all-out obsession. Brad Pitt’s character in Seven finds himself completely submerged in hunting down John Doe, which leads to both shocking and tragic results. Similarly, in Zodiac, Mark Ruffalo’s great character finds himself grappling with an ongoing desire to catch the Zodiac killer and the debilitating feelings of failure when he comes up short.
This thematic aspect of his work allows Fincher to create truly immersive and thought-provoking horror that leaves an impression beyond just mere horror movie jump scares. In the years since, he’s perfected and honed his craft and to see him revisit this milieu with the skills and artistry he’s gained would be nothing short of captivating. While many filmmakers portray these complex psychological relationships on-screen, few do so with as much complexity and vision as Fincher. It’s safe to say many audiences would be more than willing to take the ride, considering films such as Seven helped change the industry.
Fincher’s Uncompromising Vision
Sony Pictures
In most thrillers or horror films, there’s at times a line some filmmakers won’t cross. For Fincher, however, no punches are pulled and classics such as Seven and Gone Girl prove he’s willing to take a concept as far as possible. This is refreshing in an age where films play by traditional conventions, especially those in the horror genre. Fincher also is a strong stylist whose films carry a distinct atmosphere that’s immersive and delivers a unique experience. Films such as Panic Room and The Game offer a claustrophobic mood that draws audiences further and further in all while ratcheting up the tension.
With this approach, Fincher’s films masterfully unsettle audiences while developing a cinematic identity of their own. This has led his movies to feel personal even when they’re adaptations, such as Fight Club, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl. By returning to his old stomping grounds, a dark cross-section of noir and horror, Fincher can deliver a top-notch experience that’s sure to disturb and engage viewers in equal measure.
Fincher Knows How To Craft Sophisticated Horror
20th Century Fox
Even at their best, horror films can sometimes come off as schlocky entertainment designed with the intention to gross out an audience. There does exist the subgenre of sophisticated horror films meant not just to frighten but to also leave one thinking. Fincher is no stranger to this as some of his earliest forays in the genre are designed with a genuine artistry. In films such as Seven and Zodiac, Fincher puts great care into generating suspense organically alongside the development of characters. This level of attention to craft elevates his films past convention and feel original rather than just another run-of-the-mill thriller, even when they’re adaptations.
Fincher also utilizes his films to explore themes such as masculinity, identity, obsession, and other aspects of human nature. By examining these deeper issues, it ensures his films linger long past the thrills and chills to connect with viewers on a deeper level. Even one of his most underrated films, Panic Room, is viewed as having deep psychological subtext that’s still being dissected by fans and critics, subtext situated in a terrifying home invasion movie.
It’d Be Electrifying To Watch
Paramount Pictures
Above all else, for many, the experience of watching a successfully crafted horror thriller is one of the most deeply satisfying things a movie lover can do. Few in the industry have quite the handle on the genre (even just the tonality of it) as Fincher, and his track record has given audiences countless classics. A return to the genre would not only bring a decorated career full circle but also deliver a riveting and engrossing experience for audiences and fans of the genre, especially in a time when studios are filled to the brim with genre fare. Having a filmmaker with vision such as Fincher at the helm could truly deliver something original and exhilarating to behold.
If his recent work on hit Netflix series Manhunter and his episode of Love, Death and Robots is any indication, Fincher is still capable of orchestrating an expert thriller that contends with the best of them. To see that once again on the big screen would be truly something to behold. There’s something to be said about a master returning to the territory he helped perfect, and that’d certainly be the case with Fincher making a return to the horror genre. It’s safe to say film buffs and audiences alike would be more than grateful for the experience, and the results are sure to be nothing less than engrossing and further proof he’s one of the most influential filmmakers working today.
