Reno Miller is a struggling artist living in New York City with his girlfriend Carol and her friend Pamela. Financial pressures and the stress of creating his next masterpiece weigh heavily on him. His situation worsens when a loud, punk rock band moves into his building and practices incessantly, further disrupting his concentration and peace. These stressors seem to exacerbate Reno's already fragile mental state, leading to significant tension within his relationships and increasing feelings of isolation. As bills pile up and his frustration mounts, Reno begins to unravel.

Faced with the mounting pressures of his life, Reno finds a disturbing outlet for his rage. Armed with a portable power drill, he prowls the streets at night, targeting homeless people in a series of gruesome attacks. This descent into violence mirrors Reno's mental breakdown as he becomes more detached from reality. Amid the chaos, the repetitive noise of the band and his own failed ambitions push him towards complete insanity. The narrative captures Reno's psychological decay as his violent tendencies become impossible to control, leading to a spiral of terror and destruction in his community.