In an alternate reality where the death penalty has been abolished, convicts are sent to an isolated island off the California coast to live out the remainder of their sentences. Known as Terminal Island, it's home to society's most hardened criminals, where no guards or official oversight dominate the daily life. Rather, the island is self-policed, with the inmate population split into factions led by two dominant figures. One such leader is the cruel and oppressive Bobby, who runs a patriarchal commune and has a band of loyal followers who subjugate other inmates through violence and fear.

Among the recent arrivals is Carmen, a strong-willed woman who refuses to play by Bobby's rules. She finds an ally in a doctor named Milford, who has also been recently sent to Terminal Island. Together, they join another faction led by A.J., a more democratic and compassionate cohort, which attempts to build a community based on mutual respect and cooperation, starkly contrasting Bobby's regime. The clashing philosophies on freedom, power, and survival set the stage for a struggle between the groups. New alliances are formed and tensions rise as the film explores themes of societal breakdown, redemption, and the human capacity for both brutality and empathy amidst the fight for control in a lawless land.