David Mills

David Mills, portrayed with palpable intensity by Brad Pitt, emerges as a figure woven from the fabric of youthful idealism and the harsh realities of urban law enforcement. Each day in the bleak, existential landscape of a sin-ridden city, he wrestles with moral complexities that threaten to tear apart the very idealism that propels him forward. Newly appointed as a detective, Mills brings with him a fervor and ambition that stands in stark contrast to his seasoned partner, Detective William Somerset, who embodies a more sobering view of their world.

Mills' life is woven with personal stakes, emboldened by his marriage to Tracy Mills, whose presence is a temporary beacon amidst the swirling chaos of their investigation into a series of grotesque murders echoing the seven deadly sins. However, as the investigation unfolds, Mills’ emotional volatility and impulsiveness become a double-edged sword, threatening to consume him. When faced with the unprecedented and chilling confrontation with the serial killer John Doe, every ideal he clings to is put to the ultimate test, culminating in a tragic consequence that irrevocably alters his path, encapsulating the tragic hero whose journey reveals not only the darkness in others but the shadows within himself.