Forrest Taft, played by Steven Seagal, is an expert at extinguishing oil fires. When he uncovers evidence of Aegis Oil's illegal drilling and dumping practices, he becomes a liability to Jennings and his associates. In an attempt to eliminate Taft, Jennings hires a hitman, played by Michael Caine.
Taft eventually teams up with Masu, a native Alaskan who is trying to protect her tribe's lands from Aegis Oil's destruction. Together, they devise a plan to stop the company from drilling and dumping, but they must first survive the harsh Alaskan wilderness and the pursuits of Aegis Oil's hired guns.
Throughout the film, Taft is portrayed as a stoic and skilled fighter, using his martial arts abilities to take out his enemies. However, he is also shown to have a deep respect for nature and the environment, and uses his expertise to help protect it from harm.
In the climactic final battle, Taft faces off against Jennings and his men, and ultimately saves the day by causing a massive explosion that destroys the oil rig and stops Aegis Oil's destructive practices for good. The movie ends with Taft returning to his hometown, where he plans to start a new life and use his skills to help protect the environment.