Hitchcoc I suppose we all have had a moment when we read a story of brutality, the rape or murder of someone done in an excruciatingly violent way by someone who has no remorse. That's what happens here and the ugliness it brings to the parents of the little girl would get anyone's hackles up. So this director contrives such a situation and then goes into the "what if" mode. What follows is about as ugly as anything I've ever seen on film. The rest of the movie is about the brutalizing of the killer. It's not just that he is tortured, but we are invited in to watch his torture in graphic detail. Because the torture is mostly physical, there is nothing redemptive about it. The father becomes robot-like in his daily devotions to the art of vengeance. He ignores what he is doing to his family and becomes an automaton. He creates machines and devices that inflict horrors. I really don't want to spend any time with someone who would enjoy watching this and the fact that it was popular makes me wonder what we are made of. I'm not averse to severe punishment for criminals, but this is beyond the pale.

PhantomAgony Is revenge the only real justice when someone you love is killed at the hands of another?That is the question that '7 Days' asks and in a way lets the audience answer as they watch a Father (Claude Legault) get revenge on his daughter's killer (Martin Dubreuil).Jasmine Hamel, an 8 year old girl, left her home to pass out invitations door to door for her upcoming birthday party on her way to school. She wanted her Father, Bruno - a Doctor - to accompany her but after just coming home after his shift at the hospital, was too tired. Her Mother (Fanny Mallette) offered to go but Jasmine wanted her Father or no one...so she left alone. Jasmine never made it to school and after a frantic search of the surrounding area, her lifeless body was found. She had been raped and murdered. Grief and blame immediately set in for her parents, especially Bruno who opted not to join his daughter on her walk. A message was also sent from the school about Jasmine's absence which Bruno never received until it was too late. He only learned about his daughter missing from a school friend who arrived to drop off her homework. What if he'd heard the message earlier? Would he have been able to save her? Jasmine's Mother can't shake this thought.The accused rapist/murderer is quickly found through a DNA match to sperm left on her body and the man is taken into custody... and Bruno's plan begins. Is jail enough of a punishment for the man that took away his daughter? Not for Bruno who decides that torcher and revenge is the only way to make the man truly pay for what he did. The kidnapping of the accused rapist/murderer and subsequent torcher is the majority of the movie. This is not a film about police work or finding out who killed Jasmine. It's not a film about the man's trial or the search for her when she first goes missing - all of that is a mere backdrop for the true focus of the film - a Father's pain and need for revenge and the sick, twisted journey he takes as he physically torchers and beats the man who took his daughter from him.It's up to the audience to decide if they support the Father's actions or not and if revenge is truly the only real way to seek justice. Beware - the torcher scenes are graphic, realistic and very disturbing and there is a lot of full frontal male nudity (the accused rapist/murderer is stripped nude once kidnapped and naked the rest of the film). However, I don't see the film as something only a sadist who enjoys the sub-genre of 'torcher porn' would like - b/c the movie is more about the emotions behind the actions than the actual physical pain. Does the Father actually kill his daughter's killer in the end when given the chance? Watch and find out.7/10 Good Movie

BoardWarrior This movie clearly defines the revenge thriller genre. As a superb standout from Canada, it delivers a myriad of emotions from a plethora of angles. It takes you on a journey inside your own mind as you compare the emotions of those affected in the movie, and compare them to emotions you think you might feel if something as horrific as the initial crime should (heaven forbid) happen in your everyday normal life.The plot is simple, the direction is stark and unwavering, and the story is beautifully acted by all the players. What a gem! One more thing. Of all the lame movies you read the reviews on, and the reviewer laments about never getting his/her '2 hours back' - you won't read any such nonsense about this flick. I highly recommend it. 10/10

CinemaPat "Does knowing your wife's murderer is behind bars make life any more bearable?""7 Days" is a powerful and brutal film about a happily married surgeon who as a result of the rape and murder of his daughter falls into a dark obsession with revenge. WARNING: this movie is VERY graphic and not for the easily offended or people with a weak stomach. "7 Days" deals with a very difficult subject matter and does not hold back. Claude Legault (Bruno) and Rémy Girard (Hervé) did an incredible job with the acting. Fanny Mallette (Sylvia) also did wonderfully, though I would have liked to have seen more of her throughout the movie. I found myself wondering why the director did not feature more of the mother's struggle. There is one scene in particular that showcases the raw talent Legault and Mallette have. It was a tour de force of brilliant acting.However, the movie is not without it's faults. One of the more interesting decisions made by the director was to not include a musical soundtrack. This worked I think in favor of the atmosphere but there could have been some fill in music at times. It seemed like the director was trying to fill holes in the story a bit too hard. There were a couple of things that didn't make much sense to do and the ending left a little to be desired."7 Days" may not be the cream of the crop of revenge flicks, but it does succeed where others fail. It is such a harrowing subject matter and is shot in such a realistic way that you are forced to have an emotional response, whether you like it or not. There are some powerful visuals that will stay with you for days, possibly months after.