High Risk

High Risk

Year: 1981

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Stewart Raffill

ActionAdventureThriller

Getting in was easy… getting out was war!!! Four American friends, badly needing money, decide to make a commando-like raid into a South American drug lord’s compound.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen High Risk yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

High Risk (1981) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of High Risk (1981), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

During a period of sluggish economy and high unemployment, four friends—Stone James Brolin, Tony Chick Vennera, Dan Bruce Davison and Rockney Cleavon Little—gather for a fishing trip that doubles as a plan to fly to Colombia to rob a drug lord. They meet Clint Ernest Borgnine, who supplies them with weapons and target practice. It becomes clear that with the exception of Stone, the men have little training and are not taking the heist seriously.

The group is flown into a jungle, where their target, Serrano [James Coburn], a sadistic drug lord who presides over a sprawling villa, looms as the central obstacle. From a hidden vantage point, they study Serrano, his staff, and a rotating cast of visitors, debating what kind of courage would be required to kill and what they would do with their share of the cash once back home. They infiltrate the villa, capture Serrano and his lover, and force Serrano to reveal the safe’s combination. They escape with five million dollars in cash, moving on foot through the dense terrain until they can buy horses. They celebrate their apparent success, unaware that a rebel tracker is watching their every move.

The following morning, Serrano’s men and local military forces close in with all-terrain vehicles and mounted troops. The group flees, but Tony and Rockney are captured by Serrano. Stone and Dan push ahead on foot and manage to escape their pursuers only by leaping from a very high rope bridge. Serrano’s men force Tony to reveal the location of the money, knowing Stone has his share and calculating better odds of survival if they move into the open.

Captured and taken to a prison, they meet Olivia [Lindsay Wagner], a prisoner in the neighboring cell who insists she was falsely arrested. Tony bribes a passing child to pull out the barred window with a tow truck, but the child demands their clothes in payment as well, sending the group fleeing through town almost naked until they slip into a bordello. Disguised in women’s clothes, Tony and Rockney make their way to a bus station and join Olivia as they head toward the rendezvous point.

Meanwhile, Dan and Stone fall into the hands of a local rebel commander, General Mariano [Anthony Quinn], who intends to claim the stolen money for himself. They manage to escape his grip, then pursue the rebels, fighting their way through the night to retrieve the cash. The rebels press them toward the rendezvous as a firefight erupts; Dan is wounded by Mariano’s tracker, and Tony is shot while trying to shield Stone.

Believing Tony to be dead, the remaining trio presses on toward the airstrip. Serrano’s mercenaries reach the scene first, sparking a three-way gun battle. The rebels are overwhelmed, the retrieval plane finally arrives to provide covering fire, and the team boards in a frantic rush. They get away, celebrating their success—only to have the engine stall just as the escape craft lifts off, leaving their fate hanging in the balance.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:51

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Desperate heist movies like High Risk

Amateur plans collide with brutal reality, sparking a frantic fight for survival.If you enjoyed the high-stakes chaos of High Risk, you'll find similar tension in these movies about bungled heists and desperate escapes. This list features films where amateur plans go awry, forcing characters into a desperate fight for survival against overwhelming odds.

desperatechaoticthrillinggrittyurgentsuspensefulmanhunt

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a straightforward but effective arc: a plan is hatched out of desperation, the initial infiltration seems successful, but a critical error or unforeseen obstacle plunges the characters into a relentless chase. The focus shifts from acquisition to pure survival.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core structure of ambition meeting harsh reality. They are united by a tense, gritty tone, fast-paced action, and the emotional undercurrent of desperation as characters are forced to improvise their way out of a situation rapidly spiraling beyond their control.

Hostile territory survival thrillers like High Risk

Outgunned and outnumbered protagonists must endure a relentless manhunt in a dangerous land.Fans of High Risk looking for similar tense survival stories will enjoy these movies about characters being hunted in dangerous settings. These films capture the feeling of being outmatched and on the run, featuring gritty action and a persistent threat from a powerful enemy.

suspensefulanxiousthrillingdesperatemanhuntgrittysurvivalurgent

Narrative Summary

The narrative is a linear fight for survival. After a triggering event, the protagonists are pursued through a hostile setting—jungle, desert, urban sprawl—by a relentless enemy. The story is propelled by a series of narrow escapes, confrontations, and the gradual erosion of the characters' resources and morale.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their core premise of survival against overwhelming odds. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced feel, a consistently tense and anxious mood, and a focus on the physical and tactical challenges of evading a determined hunter in an unfamiliar and dangerous world.

Unlock the Full Story of High Risk

Don't stop at just watching — explore High Risk in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what High Risk is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

High Risk Timeline

Track the full timeline of High Risk with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

High Risk Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in High Risk

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape High Risk. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in High Risk

High Risk Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of High Risk that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

High Risk Spoiler-Free Summary

More About High Risk

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about High Risk: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About High Risk

Similar Movies to High Risk

Discover movies like High Risk that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.