New Orleans is a city in chaos, picking up the pieces after hurricane Katrina. Black Water Transit's owner, Jack Vermillion (Laurence Fishburne) is trying to break away from the life of crime he grew up in and conduct a legitimate business. Jack is tortured by thoughts of his only son Gary, who is in prison endangering his own life with his self destructive behavior and aggressive attitude towards the other inmates.
When the mysterious Earl Pike (Karl Urban) approaches Jack to ship an enormous stash of guns, he decides to expose Earl to District Attorney Schick in exchange for Gary's protection. Jack's plan, however, is jeopardised by the fact that Sardoonah (Brittany Snow), a prostitute he has taken under his wing, is falling in love with Earl and might be shifting her loyalty.
With a team of bickering cops on their tail, the lives of Jack and Earl become inextricably linked in an explosive drama led by a highly unconventional hero. Against the backdrop of a post apocalyptic world descending into chaos, Tony Kaye (director of critically acclaimed AMERICAN HISTORY X) brings us a hard hitting, pulse pounding action drama about violence, betrayal, love, and the desire to do good when everything conspires against you.