Seven

Detective Lieutenant William Somerset is just days away from retirement, contemplating his future after years of service in a city riddled with crime. As he reflects on his career, he is reluctantly partnered with Detective David Mills, a new arrival with a fiery temperament.

At a dinner hosted by Mills and Tracy, Somerset forms a bond with Tracy, who confides her worries about raising a child in such a dangerous environment. Somerset listens empathetically, drawing from his own past experiences, and advises her on the gravity of disclosing her pregnancy to Mills.

Somerset and Mills are called to investigate a grotesque murder that represents gluttony. The victim, a morbidly obese man, was forced to eat until his stomach burst, shocking the detectives and signaling the start of a sinister series of crimes.

The detectives uncover a second victim, a criminal defense attorney who was made to cut off a pound of his own flesh. This terrible act symbolizes greed and underscores the horrific nature of the crimes they are investigating.

As the investigation progresses, the detectives find a critically injured child molester and drug dealer, embodying sloth, tied to a bed. This victim is unable to provide any clues, leaving Somerset and Mills with more questions than answers.

Through library records, Mills and Somerset identify their main suspect, John Doe. An intense pursuit ensues, during which Mills is temporarily held at gunpoint by Doe, escalating the tension as they begin to understand the mind of their adversary.

In a disturbing act, John Doe forces another victim to kill a prostitute, embodying lust for his twisted morality. This heinous crime deepens the detectives' resolve to capture Doe before his grotesque agenda can unfold further.

The detectives encounter a fifth victim with a disfigured face, confronted with a horrifying choice to end her life or continue living in agony. Her plight serves as a shocking representation of pride, deeply affecting Somerset and Mills as they chase John Doe.

In a surprising turn, John Doe willingly surrenders to the police, drenched in blood, claiming to want to confess. He insists on helping Somerset and Mills locate victims associated with envy and wrath, luring Mills down a dark path.

As they drive to what Doe claims are burial sites, he reveals his lack of remorse for his actions, coercing Mills into a volatile state. His manipulative dialogue reveals his self-perceived role as an agent of justice, raising the stakes for the detectives.

Upon arriving at a deserted location, Somerset discovers a delivery van with a horrifying package. When he opens it, he is met with the gruesome sight of Tracy's head, confirming Doe's twisted envy towards Mills’ life.

Overcome with vengeance and heartbreak, Mills shoots John Doe multiple times in a fit of rage. This act completes Doe’s tragic plan, bringing Mills to a point of no return as he succumbs to the very sin they were investigating.

As Mills is led away, broken and consumed by grief, Somerset reflects on the tragic spiral of violence and loss they have endured. In a poignant voiceover, he shares a quote from Hemingway, hinting that despite the darkness, hope still exists.