The film opens in gritty, crime-ridden South East London, where tensions between the police and the public are at an all-time high. We’re immediately introduced to Detective Sergeant Tom Brant (played by Jason Statham), a hard-as-nails, no-nonsense officer with a notorious reputation for using brute force and unorthodox methods. Known for his short temper and rough-around-the-edges personality, Brant operates in the kind of grey moral areas where justice isn’t always clean—but it gets done.

The first scene sets the tone of the film with a jarring jolt of action. Brant, off-duty and driving home late at night, witnesses a group of three young delinquents attempting to steal a parked car on a dimly lit street. Without hesitation, he screeches his car to a halt, grabs a hurley (an Irish hurling stick) from the back seat—a weapon he keeps on hand—and charges at the would-be thieves.

What follows is a brutal and fast-paced confrontation. Brant single-handedly takes down all three youths with swift, calculated strikes—his movements efficient and punishing. The scene is gritty and visceral, with the camera capturing every blow, giving the audience a glimpse into Brant’s uncompromising worldview: criminals deserve what’s coming to them, no matter how young or petty their crime may seem.

Though his actions stop the theft, they immediately draw the ire of his superiors and internal affairs. A fellow officer remarks, “He plays by his own rules,” while another calls him a liability. But Brant shrugs off the backlash, showing no remorse. “They picked the wrong night to try grand theft auto,” he growls, walking away from the scene as sirens approach.

This explosive opening doesn’t just establish Brant’s character—it also sets the gritty, unforgiving tone for the rest of the film. It’s clear from the start: Brant isn’t your typical detective. He’s a street brawler in a badge, willing to do whatever it takes to bring order to a city teetering on the edge of chaos.