Colin Evans (Idris Elba) has been imprisoned for over five years for manslaughter in the state of Tennessee. He is eligible for parole and during his parole hearing Colin pleads his case to the board members. He claims he is a changed man and has been rehabilitated. The parole board denies his release, claiming that he is not trustworthy enough. On the way back to prison, a frustrated Colin outwits the corrections officers transporting him by killing them both and escapes with the van.