Gwyneth Paltrow’s Traveling Severed Head: A Gross Se7en Legend, Explained

Gwyneth Paltrow's Traveling Severed Head: A Gross Se7en Legend, Explained

As a fan with a penchant for behind-the-scenes trivia and a soft spot for Gwyneth Paltrow’s riveting performances, I find the urban legend surrounding her severed head prop in “Contagion” intriguing. While it’s a chilling thought to imagine that the same prop used in David Fincher’s “Seven” made an unexpected appearance in Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion,” I must admit, it adds a certain macabre charm to both films.


A concise way to describe the ending of “Seven” would be to say it leaves you with a spine-tingling feeling. Throughout the movie, detectives David Mills (Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) pursue the enigmatic serial killer John Doe (Kevin Spacey). In an unexpected twist, they discover that the final victim is Tracy Mills (Gwyneth Paltrow), David’s wife. Although her severed head isn’t shown onscreen, a prop was made for the movie, and there are rumors suggesting it surfaces in Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion.”

In Soderbergh’s disease-focused thriller, there’s a scene where Beth Emhoff, Paltrow’s deceased character, has her skull opened to study her brain by scientists. Instead of creating a fresh prop for this gruesome sequence, the filmmakers opted to recycle the head prop from David Fincher’s chilling serial killer movie.

It’s important to mention that although the item in question might be the same as seen in other films, it hasn’t been verified by anyone involved in “Contagion” or “Seven”. However, we do have evidence suggesting that Paltrow underwent a grueling process to make her autopsy scene convincing.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Contagion scene was challenging to make

Gwyneth Paltrow's Traveling Severed Head: A Gross Se7en Legend, Explained

Brad Pitt stipulated that the head stay confined within the box during the filming of “Seven,” though without directly viewing it, one can’t verify if it was the same prop from “Contagion.” Until further proof emerges, this rumor should be regarded with a measure of skepticism.

In addition, the autopsy scene featuring Gwyneth Paltrow in “Contagion” necessitated her to alter her appearance and remain motionless on a table for 40 minutes. This implies that all the visuals we witness on-screen were meticulously fabricated. During a press conference with USA Today (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), director Steven Soderbergh disclosed that they had instructed Paltrow to extend her tongue slightly and let out a yellowish fluid from her nose. Eager for authenticity, Paltrow insisted on getting it just right.

In today’s context following the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are finding it hard to tear themselves away from watching “Contagion,” as the film’s themes remain strikingly current. Perhaps this increased attention on the movie will eventually bring a definitive resolution to the lingering mystery it presents.

To discover intriguing facts about the making of the film “Seven,” take a look at its hidden storyline.

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2024-08-17 17:59