When a popular but small town sheriff in Arkansas, who dreams of being a "real" city cop, finally gets the action he's been craving, it may be more than he bargained for. After two ruthless drug dealers, Ray (Billy Bob Thornton) and Pluto (Michael Beach), commit a brutal mass murder in Los Angeles, they flee with their beautiful accomplice, Fantasia (Cynda Williams), to her hometown of Star City, Arkansas. But waiting for them there are two cynical L.A. cops and the eager sheriff, Dale "Hurricane" Dixon (Bill Paxton). Having waited all his life for a major bust, Hurricane is more than ready. But when Fantasia arrives ahead of the gunmen, she brings with her a shattering secret from Hurricane's own past. And now he must decide how to confront his future.