# Se7en Ending Explained
Se7en, directed by David Fincher and released in 1995, concludes with one of cinema’s most shocking and devastating finales. The ending transforms the entire film from a detective thriller into a tragedy about the corruption of the human soul.
The climax occurs when detectives David Mills and William Somerset, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, finally corner serial killer John Doe, portrayed by Kevin Spacey. The killer has been murdering victims to represent the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy, and wrath. Mills and Somerset believe they have stopped him, but Doe reveals he has one final murder already committed.
A delivery van arrives in a barren field under intense sunlight. When Somerset opens the box delivered by the van, he discovers the severed head of Mills’ wife, Tracy. This murder represents the sin of envy. Doe explains that he killed Tracy because he envied Mills’ ordinary life and his marriage. The killer then deliberately provokes Mills, goading him into committing the seventh sin: wrath.
Despite Somerset’s desperate pleas for Mills to maintain control, Mills becomes overwhelmed by rage and grief. He shoots John Doe repeatedly, completing the killer’s twisted design. By committing this act of violence, Mills becomes the sixth victim of Doe’s plan, and his murder of the killer represents the seventh sin of wrath. Mills has been manipulated into fulfilling Doe’s vision perfectly.
The film ends with Mills being taken away by police, emotionally destroyed and having lost everything. Somerset, who had planned to retire, decides to continue fighting against the darkness of the world. He quotes Ernest Hemingway, saying the world is a fine place and worth fighting for, though his tone suggests deep uncertainty about this belief.
The ending was intentional and carefully protected during production. Brad Pitt insisted that Tracy’s death remain in the final film, refusing to shoot an alternate version where she survived. The filmmakers considered other possibilities, including Somerset killing Doe to save Mills or police shooting Mills in retaliation, but ultimately chose the version that maximizes tragedy and moral complexity.
The genius of Se7en’s ending lies in how it subverts typical crime thriller expectations. Rather than the detective catching the killer and restoring order, the killer achieves his complete goal. He transforms Mills from an innocent man into a murderer, proving his philosophy that humanity is fundamentally corrupt. Somerset’s decision to continue fighting despite this revelation suggests a kind of defiant hope, but the film leaves viewers with profound unease about whether good can truly triumph over evil.
Sources
https://spoilertown.com/se7en-1995/
https://en.namu.wiki/w/%EC%84%B8%EB%B8%90(%EC%98%81%ED%99%94)
https://www.cbr.com/must-watch-thrillers-greatest-endings-list/
