Successful Los Angeles construction magnate Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider) has his life turned upside down when three hooded blackmailers come to him with a tape of Harry and his mistress, a stripper named Cini (Kelly Preston). They demand $105,000 per year for the tape. Because Harry's wife Barbara (Ann-Margret) is running for city council, he cannot go to the police. Harry decides not to pay, and the blackmailers respond by breaking into Harry's house and stealing his gun and some clothing. They use the stolen items to make another video, wherein they murder Cini with Harry's gun. Again they demand $105,000 per year. Harry tracks down the lead blackmailer, amateur adult filmmaker Alan Raimy (John Glover), and is able to convince Raimy he can only pay $52,000, which Raimy accepts. Harry then begins to turn the other blackmailers, psychotic Bobby (Clarence Williams III) and cowardly Leo (Robert Trebor), against each other and Raimy. This leads to Bobby attempting to break into Harry's house and kill him, but Harry and Barbara overpower him, and learn that Raimy did not mention the revised deal to his accomplices. As Leo begins to crack, Raimy and Bobby resort to further escalating violence, and Harry will have to fight to save himself and Barbara.