Remorseful former mercenary-turned-bodyguard Creasy (Denzel Washington) is hired by a wealthy family to protect their 10-year-old daughter, Pita (Dakota Fanning), from a rash of Mexico City kidnappings. But when the child he befriends is kidnapped while under his watch, Creasy - aided by his only true friend, Rayburn (Christopher Walken) - begins to systematically unleash vengeance on those responsible.