The Seventh Seal

Name: The Seventh Seal
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Released: October 13, 1958
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 88
Cast: Bengt Ekerot, Bertil Anderberg, Bibi Andersson, Gunnar Björnstrand, Gunnel Lindblom

1958

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 42 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 42 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Svensk Filmindustri (SF) | Release Date: October 13, 1958 | TV-PG

Starring: Bengt Ekerot, Bertil Anderberg, Bibi Andersson, Gunnar Björnstrand, Gunnel Lindblom, Inga Gill, Inga Landgré, Maud Hansson, Max von Sydow, Nils Poppe

Summary: A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 96 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Pauline Kael

A magically powerful film.

100

John Hartl

A stark and still-stunning medieval allegory. [14 Sept 1991, p.25]

100

Roger Ebert

The directness of The Seventh Seal is its strength: This is an uncompromising film, regarding good and evil with the same simplicity and faith as its hero. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Film has superior technical narrative, impressive lensing and thesping. Read full review

100

Bosley Crowther

A piercing and powerful contemplation of the passage of man upon this earth. Essentially intellectual, yet emotionally stimulating, too, it is as tough—and rewarding—a screen challenge as the moviegoer has had to face this year. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Ingmar Bergman's dark masterpiece effortlessly sees off the revisionists and the satirists; it is a radical work of art that reaches back to scripture, to Cervantes and to Shakespeare to create a new dramatic idiom of its own. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The film in fact consists of a series of dull speeches spun on simple themes; Bergman barely tries to make the material function dramatically. Read full review

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User Reviews

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

From its shrieking, opening music to an ending that leaves a thoughtful impact, Bergman paints an image of Sweden during a time when The Black Plague ran rampant and brought turmoil to its citizens. The film creates an environment that is filled to the brim with cynicism with a hint ofFrom its shrieking, opening music to an ending that leaves a thoughtful impact, Bergman paints an image of Sweden during a time when The Black Plague ran rampant and brought turmoil to its citizens. The film creates an environment that is filled to the brim with cynicism with a hint of metaphors. The idea of life against death serves as only a subplot for a film that primarily focuses on how much stress the human psyche can handle. When all is unveiled, the film leaves you wanting more from its surprisingly short running time. Regardless, the film is dark, innovative, and smart. It is one of the most cynical films I have ever seen. For filmmakers, this film is a must-see.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This is certainly a quirky and surreal watch - a surprisingly watchable one. The plot doesn't exactly entirely make sense but it also doesn't entirely matter. I'd say there's an element of farce about it and it even features some (brief) toilet humour/references, which is surprisingly for aThis is certainly a quirky and surreal watch - a surprisingly watchable one. The plot doesn't exactly entirely make sense but it also doesn't entirely matter. I'd say there's an element of farce about it and it even features some (brief) toilet humour/references, which is surprisingly for a film of its age (it was released in the late 1950s).

Its different to the usual black and white films I see or have seen but I thought it was surprisingly amusing and surreal, so its certainly an entertaining watch, even though it covers quite serious thematic material, mainly mortality. As the film went on, I felt more engrossed in the story and the characters, which has to be a good sign, hence my rating. The slow drum beats often present in the background help to add to the tension as well.

I'd recommend this particularly to fans of quirky, classic (perhaps arthouse type) films I suppose - after all, who doesn't want to see a film with scenes featuring death playing chess? (I wonder if the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey film with a similar scene was taking the pee out of that? I bet you didn't expect to read 'Bill & Ted' in a review of a film such as this but, well, there you go!).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Mar 23, 2021

The Seventh Seal is definitely an interesting film that deserves its status as a classic. Well-acted and directed. What made it intriguing for me was the main character's attempts to thwart off the personification of Death while also trying desperately to figure out if there was life afterThe Seventh Seal is definitely an interesting film that deserves its status as a classic. Well-acted and directed. What made it intriguing for me was the main character's attempts to thwart off the personification of Death while also trying desperately to figure out if there was life after death (so to speak).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AJ_13

Jan 26, 2021

I don't think it is a bad movie at all, it's just not my cup of tea. Nonetheless I apreciate how original, intelligent and thought-provoking it is.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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