| Director | Carl Franklin |
|---|---|
| Budget | $2.5 million |
| Box office | $1.5 million |
Three criminals, Ray, Pluto and Fantasia (Ray's girlfriend), commit six brutal murders over the course of one night in Los Angeles as they seek a cache of money and cocaine. The trio leave for Houston to sell the cocaine to a friend of Pluto's.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives Dud Cole and John McFeely are investigating the case. After getting a few leads, they discover that the three are possibly headed for Star City, Arkansas from a recovered home video tape. The LAPD contacts the Star City Police Chief, Dale "Hurricane" Dixon, who is excited about the case, as it gives him an opportunity to do "some real police work". He is well-known throughout the rural community, chatting with locals while on patrol. The detectives arrive in Star City and meet Dale. He attempts to ingratiate himself with the detectives, whom he reveres, who pretend to respect him while secretly mocking his country lifestyle.
After stopping at a convenience store in Texas, a state trooper pulls over and attempts to arrest Ray and Pluto, but Fantasia kills him as she is asked to get out of the car. Word of the trooper's murder gets to the detectives in Star City, and the trio review surveillance photos of Ray and Fantasia in the store confirming their identity. Dale informs the detectives that Fantasia's real name is Lila Walker, a native of Star City. He recalls she was a troubled youth who left for Hollywood with dreams of an acting career.
The detectives sense Dale may know Fantasia better than he is letting on after they stop by her mother's house. They question Fantasia's mother and brother Ronnie about Fantasia's whereabouts and if she had contacted them recently. They also meet a young boy, Byron, who is revealed to be Lila's young son. The detectives suspect that Lila will be coming home to see him.
Ray, Fantasia and Pluto arrive in Houston to sell the drugs as planned. Fantasia takes a bus to Star City. Angry that their buyers are reneging on the previously agreed upon price for the cocaine, Pluto and Ray kill them and flee. They drive to Star City to meet up with Fantasia and plan their next move.
When Fantasia arrives in Star City, she hides at a rural house. Dale confronts her, and it is revealed that the boy is Dale and Lila's son, conceived during an affair years earlier. After tense conversation, they make a deal: Lila will lure Ray and Pluto to ensure their arrest and in exchange, Dale will help her leave town.
Pluto and Ray arrive at the house and are immediately confronted by the armed police chief. Lila distracts Dale, allowing Pluto to stab him in the stomach, during which Dale manages to shoot Pluto. Ray draws his gun and runs outside while shooting at Dale. The two fire at each other, but Fantasia stops Dale from killing Ray, only to have Ray errantly shoot her in the head, killing her. Seriously wounded, Dale steadies himself and shoots Ray to death. Pluto walks outside and falls dead in the grass. Dale calls for help with his police radio, and the LAPD detectives arrive, amazed at what the chief has accomplished. Byron walks over and talks to Dale as he lies bleeding, and he asks the boy to tell him about himself.