John Frankenheimer directs this crime thriller, adapted from Elmore Leonard's novel. Wealthy businessman Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider)'s life is turned upside down when a group of vicious blackmailers threaten to expose his extramarital affair unless he pays a significant ransom. When Mitchell refuses to pay up, the blackmailers kill his young mistress Cini (Kelly Preston) and frame him for the murder. Unable to go to the police because of his wife's political aspirations, Mitchell takes matters into his own hands in a desperate attempt to end the ordeal.

In the future, mankind has been invaded by a lethal alien bug race, thirty feet tall and possessing the ability to fly. Freedom fighter Johnny Rico sets about training up an elite military unit in order to combat the alien invaders, while his girlfriend, Carmen, becomes a fighter pilot. However, in the heat of battle, Johnny is unaware that Carmen is being seduced by her dashing flight instructor.