Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend.
由巴兹．库利克导演的该片是史蒂夫·麦奎因的最后遗作，虽然有点 “英雄老矣"的感慨，但他仍将剧中的瑞夫索尔森一角演绎得栩栩如生，入木三分。拍片过程中的高难和危险动作他必亲自上阵，所以给片中的追逐场面增添了几分真实感和刺激感。 该片取材于一个真实故事，讲述一名以追捕通缉犯领取奖金为生的捕头瑞夫索尔森，因长期忙于追捕工作而忽略了与女朋友的关系，致使女友出走。而此时，曾被他逮捕归案的梅森已出狱，他矢志报瑞夫索尔森一箭之仇。他在成功挟持瑞夫索尔森的女友后，两人终于再次对峙。
罗伯特·戴维依饰演纽约市的警官柯代尔，原是警界精英，但过分忠直却处处树敌，终于被敌人诬陷下狱。他在狱中受尽折磨，心性大变，复仇之火使他变成极尽毁灭能事的刽子手，甚至在出狱后仍要重回监狱去对付那些欺负过他的仇人。
