[Chapter 242: Did Link Commit Murder?]
In the fifth week after the release of Se7en, and building on the heat from the Simpson case, it managed to overshadow big commercial hits like Clear and Present Danger, True Lies, Forrest Gump, The Lion King, The Client, and Wyatt Earp, becoming the champion at the box office.
This news stunned many in Hollywood and raised skepticism. The surprise stemmed from the fact that Se7en faced significant pressure from major studios after it struggled to reach the top spot for three consecutive weeks. Expectations were low, and it seemed that Se7en would become Link's worst-performing film.
No one anticipated the shocking twist of the Simpson murder case, where the killer left one of the seven deadly sins -- "greed" -- written at the crime scene. The world was engrossed, and North American audiences were equally captivated. However, to really grasp the significance of greed, they needed to understand Se7en's interpretation of the concept.
Watching Se7en, which garnered positive reviews, felt like a much better investment than viewing the complex and obscure Paradise Lost. This dynamic caused Se7en's box office numbers to surge, doubling in this week compared to the previous week.
Everyone in the industry commented on Link's luck; it seemed the goddess of fortune had not abandoned him. However, the timing of the murder case also raised many eyebrows.
...
Following the principle of "who benefits might be the perpetrator" from criminology, some speculated. Before the Simpson case, Se7en was struggling against movies like Forrest Gump and True Lies. Just as it seemed destined for failure, the murder case breathed new life into the film.
Some entertained the idea that Link might have orchestrated this publicity stunt -- seeing Se7en's poor box office performance, he could have sneaked into Nicole Brown's home, killed her and Ron Goldman, and pinned the crime on Simpson, writing "greed" on the wall to attract media attention. With Se7en's sudden success, Link could stand to gain millions more than the suspect, Simpson. Thus, Link could potentially be the murderer.
...
"Link, there are rumors that you were involved in the Simpson case. Is that true?" Ben Affleck cautiously inquired over the phone.
"Of course it's false. How could you believe such rumors?" Link sighed, realizing Ben was not the first acquaintance to ask about this.
"You really didn't kill anyone?"
"Do I look like a killer to you?"
"It's just that it's quite the coincidence. Se7en premiered shortly before someone decided to act out a real-life version of one of its deadly sins, almost like it was part of the movie's promotion. This case boosts the film's ticket sales, and you could make a fortune from it. So, you have a motive."
"Get lost! I'm worth over a billion. I don't need to risk everything for a few million."
"I can answer that. You're not the type to back down easily. Seeing Se7en suppressed, you might think about using a person's death to promote your film; second, we all know you're wealthy enough not to kill for cash. You know that, so you'd have no hesitation to act."
"Use someone's life to promote a film? Have you lost your mind or have I?"
"Hey, why don't you tell me where you were and what you were doing that night? Who can vouch for you?"
"Alright, stop joking. You really should practice your acting skills more. You know, among all the male actors I've worked with, you're the most talented yet the laziest. If you spent more time on your craft rather than partying and chasing girls, you'd be as successful as Clark Gable or Marlon Brando."
"Really?" Ben exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, practice hard. I believe in you."
"Sure, I will."
Ben replied cheerfully.
...
After hanging up, Link shook his head, returning to help Cici with her homework.
Soon, Robert Shea called, speaking politely and complimenting how Guess Pictures was using the Simpson case for promotional tactics. He expressed confidence that Se7en would have a solid chance of surpassing $200 million at the North American box office.
Robert also said that in the weeks prior, Se7en's earnings had fallen short of expectations, and the media was quick to spread negative sentiments about the film. Yet, Link remained calm, continuing to coordinate the promotional efforts, praising him as a man who could do great things.
Robert rambled on, dropping hints of doubt: "Link, those two weren't really your doing, were they?"
Link felt no need to explain; such clarifications were pointless. He hadn't committed any crime and wasn't worried about being considered a suspect.
...
However, after Se7en hit number one at the box office, a furious Michael Ovitz and others gathered over ten million dollars to launch a smear campaign against Link through several small tabloids, stating Link was responsible for the murders to promote Se7en. They urged people not to support a film associated with a murderer.
These tabloids even referenced the 1992 case of the "Muletta Murder," which had remained obscure until the release of Paranormal Activity. Following that film, it had gained sudden popularity, becoming a major criminal case in America, paralleling the box office success of Paranormal Activity, which grossed over $600 million.
With Se7en now in theaters, the timing of these murders felt too coincidental. Anyone who regularly watched films knew that many seemingly fortuitous events often had a premeditated angle. So, only furthers allegations surfaced that Link was behind this too; he was trying to exploit the murder for his film's promotion.
Some tabloids openly labeled Link as the "Murder Director," featuring a cartoon of him holding not a camera, but a bloody knife, with several bodies lying around.
Some naive individuals protested outside the Los Angeles police department, demanding Link be named a suspect. Meanwhile, Simpson's African American fans marched through the streets claiming Link was the real killer, insisting Simpson was innocent and demanding his release, threatening further riots if justice was not served.
Rap artist Puff Daddy claimed Link was also a suspect, asserting that the police should treat both Simpson and Link equally, demanding Link be jailed while just Simpson was being captured. They argued that the police's reluctance to target Link was discriminatory.
...
In response, Guess Pictures' legal department and WMA quickly took action, suing dozens of tabloids and Puff Daddy, demanding public apologies to Link.
...
Despite the media's slander affecting Link's reputation, Se7en's box office earnings soared thanks to the publicity from the Simpson case.
In the sixth week of release, Se7en earned $29.83 million in North America, bringing its cumulative gross to $161 million. With no major competition releasing that week, Se7en claimed the weekly box office crown again.
Forrest Gump took second place with $17.75 million, amassing a total of $204 million. Third place went to Clear and Present Danger with $14.31 million, while the fourth spot was claimed by Color of Night, starring Bruce Willis, which opened to $6.61 million -- confirming a likely loss given its $40 million budget. In fifth place, True Lies saw a cumulative total of $87.05 million.
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