Evil comes in all shapes and sizes. Faceless, limitlessly powerful and ever-present. It has flourished throughout the ages with one defining goal, one reason for its existence: to create chaos from the destruction of good. Decorated homicide detective John Hobbes (DENZEL WASHINGTON) and his partner, Jonesy (JOHN GOODMAN), have apprehended a demonic serial killer, been present at the killer's trial and witnessed his execution. Now, the pair is suddenly confronted with a new series of slayings committed in the late killer's same peculiar style. Lieutenant Stanton (DONALD SUTHERLAND), the detectives' superior, is unsure whether these new murders are the work of a copycat or a rogue cop. When continuing police investigation uncovers circumstantial evidence implicating Hobbes in the killings, the detective is drawn deep into a baffling mystery that leads him to a theology professor (EMBETH DAVIDTZ), whose knowledge of the supernatural issues involved in the case prove crucial. Hobbes' investigation forces the detective to question his beliefs about the forces of light and darkness and brings him face to face with one overwhelming truth: pure evil is eternal and knows no bounds.