Mari Collingwood, portrayed by Sandra Peabody, has plans to celebrate her 17th birthday by heading to a rock concert in New York City with her close friend, Lucy Grantham, who plays Phyllis Stone. Despite expressing their doubts about the band Bloodlust and the implications of Mari's friendship with Phyllis, her parents still allow her to go, gifting her a beautiful peace symbol necklace before she departs.
As the two friends travel in the Collingwood's car, they rock out to loud music, notably a track promising that “the road leads to nowhere...” Just then, a radio announcement interrupts about a recent escape from a local prison, detailing the dangerous criminals involved: the notorious murderers Krug Stillo, played by David Hess, and his cousin Fred "Weasel" Podowski, portrayed by Fred J. Lincoln. They've successfully escaped with the help of Krug's girlfriend, Sadie, who violently killed a police dog, and Junior, Krug's troubled son.
Upon arrival in the bustling city, Mari and Phyllis are on the hunt for someone who can sell them marijuana when they encounter Junior, who leads them to Sadie's apartment. It is here that the girls find themselves trapped in a horrifying scenario where Phyllis bravely resists, suffering brutal violence at the hands of Krug and Weasel while Mari can only watch in sheer terror.
Meanwhile, Mari's parents are blissfully preparing a surprise birthday celebration, unaware of the dreadful events unfolding. By the next day, they report Mari's absence to two bumbling police officers who nonchalantly dismiss the situation, assuring her parents that their daughter is likely safe. They even overlook the gang's broken-down vehicle right in front of the Collingwood home.
As the criminals drive the girls into the countryside, their vehicle breaks down, forcing them to take the terrified teenagers deep into the woods. There, the girls are subjected to unspeakable horrors. Phyllis is ordered to humiliate herself, while the gang's brutality continues to escalate with each passing moment. A disturbing turn arises when the girls are coerced to strip and interact under threatening orders, only to have Krug grow bored and step away for a moment.
Back at the police station, Sheriff Marshall Anker and his deputy finally realize their blunder regarding the abandoned car, but as they try to return to the Collingwood's home, they face trouble when their car runs out of fuel. The officers also encounter dismissing situations while attempting to get a ride, first with a group of hippies and then with Ada, an elderly chicken farmer.
In a sickening twist, Sadie begins to torment Mari, compounding the dread of their situation. Amidst the chaos, Phyllis devises a desperate escape plan, aiming to create a distraction so that Mari can flee. She runs into the woods, but the horror continues as she confronts Krug, resulting in a tragic and gruesome end.
When Mari finally persuades Junior to let her escape, she's horrified to find that it's too late; the gang has returned. A shocking revelation occurs when Krug taunts her with the severed hand of her friend, plunging Mari into a terrifying nightmare as he inflicts violence upon her, ultimately ending in a twisted tragedy.
As the assailants temporarily clean up and try to blend into society, they arrive at the Collingwood home, masking their true intentions. After an unsettling interaction during dinner, horror strikes once more when Mrs. Collingwood, played by Cynthia Carr, pieces together the horrifying puzzle and rushes to find Mari.
In a gripping climax of chaos and vengeance, Dr. Collingwood confronts the criminals, leading to a heart-pounding final showdown marked by the use of a chainsaw. As the pieces of violence combine, the horrific fates of the criminals unfold—each receiving a violent end in a final act of retribution.
Ultimately, the film concludes with the grieving Collingwood couple, bloodied yet determined, left to grapple with the horror that has unfolded within their lives.
