Tapped Out

Michael Shaw hides in the backseat as two armed carjackers steal his parents' car. One of the men kills both parents before driving away, while Michael remains unseen. He later spots a distinctive tattoo on the killer's neck that will haunt him for years.

Seven years pass and Michael is a troubled teen living with his grandfather. After causing trouble at a party, he is sentenced to community service at a rundown karate school run by Reggie Monroe. Through the work, he rediscovers his long-lost passion for karate.

Michael meets Reggie's niece Jen Monroe and the two quickly click. Jen invites him to a local mixed martial arts fight and asks him to keep it secret from Reggie, since her uncle isn't fond of the sport. The invitation rekindles his interest in competition.

During the MMA fight, Michael recognizes Dominic Grey as the man who killed his parents seven years ago. The revelation fuels a burning desire for revenge and questions whether justice will ever come. He considers reporting him to police but keeps his emotions in check for now.

Michael follows Grey to his home and contemplates killing him with a gun. He ultimately cannot go through with it, torn by memories of his parents and a vow never to cross a line again. The moment hardens his resolve to seek justice properly, through training and the law.

Michael returns to the police with Grey's address, but authorities won't act without solid evidence. He grows frustrated at the lack of progress in the case. The cold reality of the system deepens his resolve to seek justice in his own way.

One of the detectives who worked on Michael's parents' murder reviews his statements and decides to reopen the case. This rekindles a glimmer of hope that the killer could be brought to justice. Michael cautiously holds onto that possibility as the hunt resumes.

Michael commits to serious karate training under Reggie, though he still hides his true motive from him. He privately sets his sights on a local tournament that offers a shot at facing Dominic Grey. The training intensifies as he grows more proficient in combat.

Michael wins a qualifying fight by defeating Lou's bodyguard, earning a place in the tournament. The victory proves his newfound discipline and sets the stage for a longer, higher-stakes challenge. He advances with confidence in his abilities.

Reggie learns that Michael intends to use the tournament to confront Grey and tries to stop him, leading to a heated argument. Michael decides to train on his own for a while, driven by the chance for closure. Jen later explains his motive to Reggie, and the coach commits to helping him again.

Jen's explanation helps clear the air, and Reggie agrees to train Michael again. He brings in friends Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida to sharpen his skills and teach him to fight in the cage. Michael and Jen grow closer as their relationship deepens.

Reggie presents Michael with a black belt, saying his father believed he would reach this milestone soon. The belt becomes a symbol of legacy and responsibility as he prepares for the cage. The next day, nerves mix with determination.

Michael makes it through the early rounds with precise karate and speed. Dominic Grey taunts him over the microphone and Michael responds by acknowledging that he knows who killed his parents. The confrontation raises the stakes for the final, not just in sport but in personal truth.

In a brutal final, Grey gains a choke but Michael's training and visions of his parents give him a second wind. He breaks free and dominates the fight, ultimately breaking Grey's leg rather than killing him. The crowd roars as Michael wins the prize and the vendetta is settled in a way that honors his parents.

Dominic is humiliated and later confesses to the murder, ending with his imprisonment as reported by the press. Michael donates the prize money to Reggie's school, thanking him for his role. Sometime after, Michael and his grandfather visit his parents' grave and place his black belt there, sure they would be proud.