While en route to prison, a bus carrying criminals Marion (Laurence Fishburne), Beck (John Alberto Leguizamo) and Anna (Aisha Hinds) is rerouted to Detroit's soon-to-be-closed Precinct 13 because of a dangerous winter storm. All communications with the outside world are cut off, and Jake (Ethan Hawke), an emotionally volatile police sergeant who is haunted by his past, is forced to work with the criminals in order to survive an attack on the precinct by a group of armed men.