Se7en wannabe?

Even if it's a 'lesser Se7en'... aiming that high and having Denzel it must be at least watchable.

Like you read my mind, mate. I couldn’t help but drawing parallels with the three leads here, Washington/Malek/Leto and Se7en’s Freeman/Pitt/Spacey. While Se7en was a brilliant film that didn’t depend on the main cast being comprised of Oscar winners/nominees, I wonder if the Little Things could have created any buzz at all without the three Oscar winners in the lead.

I felt the same. And I love this one too

Denzel did turn down Se7en, and they say he's been searching for it ever since. Remember Bone Collector? Anyway, I do agree it's tryna illicit Se7en ambiance. Denzel came over for dinner just like Morgan Freeman, and got to know his partner's wife/family. Even in the desert digging scene of this movie, when we didn't know yet what Sparma was up to. They tried to fool us into thinking about the Se7en ending, by having Sparma talk about his family, "Oh I forgot to tell you, I've seen a picture of your family. You should have stayed out of the public eye, Jimmy...." It had me thinking is he about to dig up his own wife or kids? Which I'm sure is what the writers were aiming for. A little Se7en modus operandi, and the moment you look that way, whack, Sparma is down.

An old black veteran cop and a younger white family man cop hunt a serial killer who provokes the young guy into killing him... other than the religious motives and the reveal of the killer it’s the same movie

I think that's what they were going for. Except here, there is no suspense and the killer is such a bore.

except john lee hancock originally wrote this two years before se7en was released