The film begins on January 4, 1972, when a group of Cuban refugees embarks on a perilous voyage to the United States. Their journey takes a dark turn when they are confronted by what seems to be a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, manned by armed personnel. Instead of salvation, the refugees are ruthlessly killed, and their hidden cargo of cocaine is seized. As the shocking truth unfolds, it becomes apparent that these armed men are actually communist Latin American guerrillas masquerading as Coast Guardsmen.
Eventually, the Coast Guard discovers the boat hauntingly adrift off the coast of Florida, filled with the victims of this gruesome act. The FBI along with the Miami Police Department rush to the scene to investigate the brutal murders. The guerrillas, led by the cunning Mikhail Rostov, portrayed by Richard Lynch, make their presence known in Florida, trading their illicit drugs for weapons with a local dealer. Former CIA agent Matt Hunter, played by Chuck Norris, is reluctantly summoned from retirement by his CIA contact. Although he initially refuses, the escalating threat becomes personal when Rostov declares that Hunter must be eliminated before their plans can proceed.
Hunter, however, narrowly escapes an assassination attempt that leaves his home in the Everglades in ruins. Determined, he informs his CIA contact of his decision to return and confront this menace. That night, a massive wave of guerrillas invades the beaches of southern Florida, launching a wider attack across the United States and wreaking havoc on suburban communities. Disguised as Miami police officers, they brutally assault a community center, taking the lives of unarmed Cuban Americans.
As chaos descends upon Miami, the FBI finds itself perplexed, unaware of Rostov's involvement in the attacks. As more bombings and riots rock the city, the fear among the public grows. On Christmas night, the guerrillas execute a terrifying assault on a shopping mall filled with holiday shoppers. Amidst gunfire and chaos, Hunter, having tracked down an informant, rushes into the mall to confront the marauding guerrillas. With resolve, he methodically takes them down, protecting the innocent.
The following morning brings a call-up of National Guard troops as martial law is enacted. Over the next two nights, Hunter thwarts several attacks, including a plan to bomb a church and eliminate civilians waiting outside a store, taking out Rostov's right-hand man, Nikko, played by Alexander Zale, during the process.
In a race against time, Hunter saves a school bus full of children from an explosive device, which he ingeniously redirects to detonate in the vehicle of two terrorists. Setting a trap for Rostov, he aids the U.S. Government in establishing a command center in Atlanta, Georgia. Here, state governors and military leaders convene to devise a strategy to quell the terror. However, Hunter finds himself arrested as a vigilante for his actions against the terrorists, brought to the command center in a strategic ploy to lure Rostov.
Eager for vengeance, Rostov mobilizes his guerrillas for an all-out assault on the command center, a tactical error that sets the stage for a climactic confrontation. With his forces surrounding the center, the guerrillas find themselves caught in a deadly ambush, leading to an intense battle in the streets. Hunter seizes the moment, using an arsenal of weaponry, including a rocket launcher, to decimate the enemy forces and confront Rostov in a harrowing showdown.
The ultimate clash sees Hunter and Rostov engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat, filled with desperation and grit. As Rostov desperately arms himself to turn the tide, the confrontation escalates until a final scene unfolds where Hunter delivers the line, > “It’s Time.” With precise aim, he fires a bazooka at close range, resulting in a visually stunning explosion that leaves Rostov defeated and obliterated.
The aftermath reveals a still and quiet Miami, as the few surviving guerrillas surrender to the National Guard. Hunter emerges victorious, freeing the city from the stranglehold of terror. The film concludes with the tranquility returning to Hunter’s life, while the haunting memory of the chaos lingers in the backdrop, evoking relief and reflection as the screen fades to black, followed by the end credits scoring the closing moments with an instrumental piece by Jay Chattaway.
