A young police officer fresh from the academy, Shane Cooper, relocates to the quiet town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife, hoping for a peaceful life and to escape the dangers of the big city. On his first day, however, Cooper quickly discovers that Red Hill is far from the tranquil retreat he expected. He is greeted with suspicion by Old Bill, the town's veteran Chief, who runs the station with a hard hand. As Shane struggles to adjust to the slow pace and to gain the respect of the town's law enforcement, he is met with disdain from the other officers who doubt his capabilities.

The tension in Red Hill escalates rapidly when news breaks that a convicted murderer, Jimmy Conway, has escaped from prison and may be heading their way. Conway is no ordinary criminal; he has a fearsome reputation and a personal vendetta against the town's police force for reasons that are initially unclear. The townspeople grow increasingly anxious, and the police officers prepare for a confrontation. Cooper finds himself thrust into the thick of the drama far sooner and more intensely than he had ever anticipated. As the town's dark past starts to unravel, Cooper must confront his own fears and the morally complex situation he's found himself in, testing his mettle and sense of justice.