Question: Where in the world does Se7en take place? I have literally spent hours in front of the TV trying to find this out. It's never mentioned, they never show a clear licence plate or a road sign with a specific name (not something like 10th St.), not even a police badge. I know it has to be a big city where it's raining constantly, with a desert right outside of town and near a lot of mountains. Is it meant to be a location, or is it deliberately vague?
Answer: It is meant to be vague. It was filmed mainly in Los Angeles though.
At the end Somerset radios the chopper and says "California stay outta here".
"California" is just a call sign. It's also said when they're in Victor's apartment. The location is just a generic, crime-infested cesspool.
California is the cop's name. I believe the city is supposed to be New York.
Question: Would Victor have felt any pain by the time he was found, or would he be so insane that he wouldn't be able to feel anything? And if so, how long would it take for him to become that insane? Also, would he be aware of where he is and who's in the room once he went completely insane, even if he's not able to communicate? And if he's no longer aware of reality, would he still feel pain? I'm a bit confused in that regard, as well as how long it would take for his brain to become mush.
Chosen answer: The question presupposes that there is a "level" of insanity wherein one stops feeling pain, which there is not. If his body still has active nerve endings, he would continue to feel pain no matter what his state of mental deterioration. As to the second part of the question, the examining doctor describes his brain (read: mind) as "mush", suggesting that he is too far gone to be aware of reality anymore.
Answer: It's actually Somerset who says it - he's looking at Victor's severed hand.
Tailkinker