In the not so distant future, the world's prison systems are run as a business by corrupt corporations. Capt. J. T. Robbins (Ray Liotta) is sent to such a prison, the island of Absolom, for killing a superior officer who ordered him to murder innocents. There he discovers that the prisoners have formed two societies: the savage Outsiders led by Walter Marek (Stuart Wilson) and the more civilized Insiders run by The Father (Lance Henriksen). Robbins must now choose a side and do what he can to escape.