Why David Fincher Used AI to “Enhance” Classic Thriller’s 4K Release

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In a recent statement, David Fincher – director of the seminal horror-thriller “Se7en” from 1995 – noted that artificial intelligence played a crucial role in the film’s restoration for its 4K presentation in cinemas, celebrating the movie’s 30th anniversary. He described this application of AI as “eye-opening.

Fincher recently discussed with Entertainment Weekly about his extensive role in the 4K restoration of the original film print, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. Starting January 7, enthusiasts can obtain a meticulously restored version of the movie on 4K UHD Blu-ray Discs and digitally. Additionally, IMAX theaters will debut the film with a flawless cut that Fincher has personally endorsed. What’s particularly intriguing is that Fincher mandated AI technology for intricate adjustments that the film apparently required to achieve perfection.

Despite many criticisms against digital media, if you could compare it with a 30-year-old photograph that has been carefully preserved — it requires a significant amount of restoration work due to all the blemishes like scratches and dust.

For a couple of months now, our focus has been on restoring the original material to a state I would consider less than ideal, so we could move forward. It might be a bit confusing to call it a ‘4K remaster.’ Instead, it’s more accurate to say ‘archival negative remaster.’ In truth, none of us anticipated just how complex this project would turn out to be.

Fincher isn’t strictly traditional in his filmmaking approach; he has employed technology previously, yet incorporating AI, even for enhancing the viewer experience, remains a contentious topic. While others have stumbled in this area, Fincher appears assured that leveraging artificial intelligence for the 4K restoration of Se7en was crucial due to the efficiency it provided.

Using this advanced technological weaponry opened my eyes to discoveries I hadn’t anticipated. We encountered things previously uncharted, images that were essentially out of focus, indiscernible on film and even in high-definition. But then when we downscaled from 8K resolution to 4K, the clarity was astonishing.

In the end, we decided to enter and perform some minor split-screen editing while employing AI for enhancement. This allowed us to clarify what was originally meant to be focused on. It took us roughly a year, but if I had worked independently, it might have taken about double that time.

Did David Fincher Change Anything From the Original Cut of ‘Se7en’?

Is there doubt among many about whether David Fincher made any alterations from the initial cinema release? To put it plainly, he did make a few adjustments, but nothing drastic enough to replace elements noticeable even to meticulous viewers. He didn’t deviate from his original vision; instead, he employed AI for minor corrections. According to Fincher, there are boundaries that must not be crossed, which is comforting news for those who dislike the thought of iconic films like Se7en undergoing substantial changes after several decades have passed. As per Fincher’s statements:

1995 saw limitations in color matching for release prints, which meant certain transitions lacked smoothness that we can achieve today. I took on tasks, particularly focusing on sharp details, and there were instances where shots of Kevin Spacey in the police car’s backseat, separated by a grate, were out of focus. However, with advancements in AI technology, we could create mattes, isolate his performance from the blurred background, and produce a clear rendition.

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2025-01-05 19:33