In a Colorado state park, a young boy named Danny Lambert is kidnapped by Jerry Barker, who seeks a hefty ransom. The plan derails when the boy accidentally falls to his death, but Barker decides to go through with the extortion scheme anyway. Barker pretends that Danny is still alive and sends ransom demands to the boy's father, leading to an intense manhunt. Barker is soon apprehended and interrogated by law enforcement, including the dedicated FBI agent, James Madden, who works tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the kidnapping.

Once detained, Barker is sent to a maximum-security prison where he encounters a group of hardened criminals: Rollo Lamar, Alamo Smith, and Machinegun Mason. These convicts learn about the hidden ransom money and devise a plan to break out of prison and retrieve it. Tension builds among the inmates as they form a precarious alliance, navigating through their own rivalries and external pressures. Lies, manipulations, and moments of sheer desperation define their interactions as they embark on a dangerous quest to secure the ransom cash.