Due to inclement snowy weather, a prison bus transporting dangerous, high-risk criminals Marion (Laurence Fishburne), Beck (John Alberto Leguizamo) and Anna (Aisha Hinds) is redirected on New Year's Eve to Detroit's rundown and short-staffed Precinct 13. As they approach the precinct, Sgt. Jake Roenick's (Ethan Hawke) satellite connection is intercepted, making it impossible to contact dispatch. Thus he believes, this is an ambush by the corrupt affiliates running the prison. With death on the line, the police sergeant has no choice but to un-cuff and ask the criminals for help. Only together will they be able to make it out of there alive.