Wake of Death

Ben Archer leaves Marseille and moves to Los Angeles, hoping to pursue a legitimate life. He wants to spend more time with his wife Cynthia and son Nicholas. This relocation signals a shift away from his mob enforcer past toward a family-focused future.

Cynthia discovers Kim among immigrants intercepted at sea and decides to bring her home despite regulations. She argues to a judge and INS agent Mac Hoggins that the girl would be in grave danger if deported and asks for a week to prepare her asylum case. The decision sets off a dangerous chain of events.

Sun Quan tracks his daughter to Los Angeles using a corrupt Hoggins and arrives at the restaurant where Cynthia and Kim are dining. He and his Triad henchmen launch a brutal attack, killing Cynthia, her parents, and many workers. The massacre shatters the family and triggers Ben's vow of vengeance.

Ben rushes to the restaurant, engages Triad members during the escape, but cannot stop them from getting away while he finds his wife's body. The sight drives him into deep grief and fuels his decision to rescue the children and avenge Cynthia. This moment marks the turning point from protector to avenger.

Overwhelmed by grief, Ben decides to take vengeance and rescue Nicholas and Kim. He resolves to confront Sun Quan and dismantle the Triads' operation, signaling a plan to end the threat. He begins to assemble allies and resources for his mission.

Ben reaches out to Cynthia's uncle Max, a French mobster, who agrees to help. Max brings in his bodyguard Raymond and friend Tony to support the mission. The group forms an alliance to counter the Triads and locate Kim and Nicholas.

Kim and Nicholas are found and kept hidden at Max's house, away from Triad pursuit. The shelter provides time for Ben to plan and for the allies to coordinate. The siblings begin to depend on Max's network for protection.

Ben and Tony learn that Triad lieutenant Andy Wang frequents a brothel and storm it, killing Wang along with several other Triad members. The raid demonstrates Ben's ruthless commitment and takes a direct shot at the Triad leadership. The action widens the conflict and tightens the noose around Sun Quan.

Da Costa, the homicide detective, reviews the crime scenes and grows suspicious of Hoggins' involvement. Ben and Tony kidnap Hoggins and take him to Max's house, where they brutalize him for answers. The interrogation hints at Sun Quan's heroin-smuggling operation and the plan to move a boat that night.

Max and Raymond torture Hoggins to death to exact revenge and expose the depth of Triad corruption. The confession includes Sun Quan's heroin smuggling operation and the boat schedule that night. The death eliminates a key insider and escalates the Triad conflict.

Ben arrives at the morgue to find Da Costa and the immigrants dead and to learn that heroin has been stolen by Triad members on motorbikes. He chases the culprits, reigniting the pursuit across Los Angeles. The morgue scene confirms the breadth of Sun Quan's operation.

Back at Max's house, Ben confronts the fleeing Triads and rescues Kim, but Nicholas is kidnapped again. The rescue underscores the personal stakes and raises the emotional toll on Ben. The family is separated once more, raising the stakes for the final confrontation.

Tony informs Ben that Max and Raymond have been killed, leaving him with fewer allies. The loss hardens his resolve to end Sun Quan's operation and protect what's left of his family. The mission becomes more personal and urgent.

With knowledge that Sun Quan will be at the docks, Ben and Tony storm his ship and kill the remaining Triad members on board. The assault brings the film toward its climax and intensifies the showdown with Sun Quan. The power struggle inches closer to a definitive end.

Sun Quan holds Nicholas as a hostage in a tense standoff; Ben and Sun Quan exchange fire, and Sun Quan is killed. Ben is severely wounded, but the police arrive to secure Nicholas. He embraces Nicholas, bringing a fragile peace and a heavy cost to the family.