Based on true events, John McNaughton's film follows Henry's senseless killing sprees. Ex-convict Otis invites Henry to share his Chicago apartment and he becomes involved in Henry's killing sprees. Otis' sister comes to visit her brother, and she is fascinated with Henry and thinks his life resembles hers.

Henry, a psychopathic drifter who has left a trail of bodies in his wake, settles for a while at the dilapidated Chicago apartment of ex-prison mate Otis. Into this toxic environment comes Otis's younger sister Becky, who's fleeing an abusive marriage and looking for a place to stay. Deflecting her brother's incestuous advances, Becky finds herself attracted to Henry and sees him as a potential lover and herself as his possible savior.