An American ship in the open water meets a boat of Cuban refugees heading to Florida. The Cubans fear deportation, but are welcomed by the ship’s captain. However, as they begin to board the ship, the Americans open fire, and kill every one of the Cubans. A handcuffed man emerges from the American ship and directs the Americans to a large stash of drugs hidden on the Cuban boat. Sometime later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrives in Miami where the American ship was found drifting at sea, with the American crew members murdered inside. Miami police reveal that a female journalist named McGuire photographed the victims, and she turns her film over to the FBI. Elsewhere, the man posing as the ship’s captain, a Russian named Mikhail Rostov, meets with drug dealers at a run-down hotel to trade the confiscated drugs for a supply of weapons. After confirming the trade over the telephone with the weapon supplier, Rostov opens fire, killing the drug dealer and his female accomplice. In the Florida Everglades, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent visits retired operative, Matt Hunter, and asks him to return to duty to capture Rostov, but Hunter refuses. In a dream, Rostov aims a missile launcher at a house, but before he fires, Hunter arrives and stops him. Rostov awakens, revealing his nightmare to his associate, Nikko, and demands that Hunter be killed before they continue their operation. Rostov and several men attack Hunter’s home by boat, and murder his friend, John Eagle, before blowing up his house. Later, Rostov and Nikko discuss their plan to attack America. That night on the beach, Nikko murders two lovers in cold blood, and greets four boatloads of gun-toting terrorists, who board a fleet of trucks in preparation for a citywide attack. Hunter agrees to take the assignment to kill Rostov. The FBI investigates the boats and bodies on the beach. On a quiet street where families celebrate Christmas, Rostov and Nikko attack their homes with rocket launchers. Elsewhere, two men pose as police officers and invade a community party, randomly killing party guests. Reporter McGuire is in attendance, but her life is spared. When real police officers arrive, the survivors protest and throw bricks at them, as McGuire photographs the chaos. The FBI arrives and McGuire learns that more than twenty random incidences of violence have occurred throughout Miami. Meanwhile, Hunter searches for Rostov, and follows a lead to the King Cobra bar. There, he threatens a man for information, but learns nothing. At a shopping mall, a bomb is detonated, gunmen attack, and Hunter drives a truck inside the mall to return fire. As the fight continues outside, McGuire arrives, and Hunter commandeers her automobile to chase the terrorists, who have fled with a female hostage. With McGuire in tow, a chase ensues. Hunter drives close to the terrorists’ truck, and McGuire grabs the woman, who dangles outside of the vehicle, and pulls her to safety. The gunmen’s truck crashes and explodes. Later, Hunter shoots several of Rostov’s men who were posing as armed guards, and learns Rostov’s whereabouts from one of them. As the attackers prepare to blow up a church full of families, Hunter comes to their rescue, throwing the bomb back at the plotters. Hunter saves a crowd of people on the street. When Nikko grabs McGuire, Hunter kills him. Parents send their children out of the city for their safety by bus. The attackers plant an explosive on the moving bus, and Hunter again comes to the rescue, removing the bomb and placing it on the enemy vehicle. Sometime later, FBI agents break down Hunter’s door and arrest him for his vigilante activities, stating that he is not above the law. Rostov learns of Hunter’s arrest from television news. As the military enforces a citywide curfew, McGuire captures the events on film. Hunter releases a televised threat to Rostov, who sends truckloads of men to attack the police station where Hunter is being held. Military tanks line the streets, and Hunter joins the fight. Rostov realizes that his men have been led into a trap. While heavy gunfire is exchanged, Hunter searches for Rostov. When they meet, a fight ensues, and Hunter blows Rostov away with a rocket launcher.