Peppermint

The scene unfolds with a woman, Riley North (Jennifer Garner), engaged in a fierce struggle against a man inside a vehicle. Her determination ultimately culminates in a decisive blow to the attacker's skull, silencing him forever.

Five years prior, Riley was a diligent banker in Los Angeles, struggling to make ends meet amidst the economic downturn. Her husband Chris (Jeff Hephner), owner of a faltering mechanic shop, was desperate for a turnaround. They shared a tender moment with their 10-year-old daughter Carly (Cailey Fleming) on her birthday, attempting to salvage what little joy they could find in each other's company. A friend of Chris's had earlier proposed an ill-conceived plan to rob Diego Garcia (Juan Pablo Raba), a ruthless drug lord with far-reaching influence. Though Chris initially resisted the temptation, Garcia's minions had already discovered his involvement and were dispatched to make an example out of him.

As Riley and Chris strolled through a carnival, Carly indulged in her favorite treat - peppermint ice cream - casting a warm glow over the festivities. The family's bliss was short-lived, as Diego's henchmen ambushed them with a hail of bullets outside their car. Chris and Carly fell victim to the drive-by shooting, leaving Riley gravely injured but alive.

Despite her physical limitations, Riley managed to identify her husband's killers. However, the detectives handling the case - Beltran (John Ortiz) and Carmichael (John Gallagher Jr.) - were hesitant to pursue charges against the perpetrators, who happened to be members of Garcia's drug cartel, enjoying considerable clout. Detective Beltran candidly confided in his partner that any investigator foolish enough to cross Garcia would ultimately meet a gruesome end, their badge found inside a police station locker.

Before the preliminary hearing, Riley was visited by her family's killers' lawyer, who attempted to bribe her into dropping the case. Her refusal only piqued the lawyer's interest in her reliance on anti-psychotic medication at home. Judge Stevens (Jeff Harlan), secretly beholden to the cartel, ruled that there wasn't sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial and dismissed the case, while the prosecution team remained eerily silent. Enraged by the injustice, Riley launched a desperate attack on her family's killers but was subdued and institutionalized.

As she was being transported to a mental institution, Riley executed an audacious escape, vanishing into thin air.

As the sun sets on the carnival's abandoned midway, Detectives Beltran (character name) and Carmichael (character name) stumble upon a gruesome scene: three lifeless bodies suspended from a Ferris wheel, their faces frozen in terror. The execution-style murders are a stark reminder of Riley's brutal methods, and it's not long before FBI Agent Lisa Inman (Annie Ilonzeh), with her keen instincts, arrives on the scene to join forces with the detectives. Inman reveals that Riley has been on a rampage, robbing a gun store for an arsenal of assault rifles and ammunition, and her latest target is none other than Judge Stevens, whose residence she blows up in a hail of bullets.

The news of Riley's reign of terror sends shockwaves through social media, with some hailing her as a hero who's taking down the corrupt system, while others see her as a cold-blooded killer. As Inman delves deeper into Riley's motives, she discovers that the enigmatic figure has been living among the marginalized on Skid Row, where her actions have earned her the reverence of those she's protecting from Diego's money laundering operation.

Meanwhile, Diego, enraged by his recent shipments going missing, sets out to eliminate Riley once and for all. Unbeknownst to Inman, Carmichael is secretly working with Diego, and it's only a matter of time before he makes his move. As tensions escalate, Riley narrowly avoids a trap set by Diego, tracking down his henchmen to his lair, where she exacts revenge on the men who've been terrorizing Skid Row.

When Inman's body is discovered on Skid Row, Beltran and Carmichael rush to the scene, only to find themselves outgunned by Diego's goons. Riley, however, has other plans. Using Inman's phone, she contacts the media, daring them to come to her location and revealing her plan to confront Diego once and for all.

As the police close in, Riley takes matters into her own hands, confronting Diego in a fierce battle that leaves him reeling. With the authorities closing in, Riley makes her escape, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos. But as she disappears into the night, it's clear that this is far from over – and that Riley will stop at nothing to claim justice for those she cares about.

As Beltran stumbles upon Riley, her battered body strewn near the hallowed grounds of her family's gravestone, a mixture of shock and compassion washes over him. With a swift decision, he orders an ambulance to transport her to the hospital, much to Riley's vehement protests - her words laced with a morbid determination to surrender to her mortal wounds. Despite her defiance, Beltran's conscience prevails, and Riley is rushed to the emergency room where medical professionals scramble to stem the tide of her lifeblood. Later, as Beltran pays a somber visit to Riley's bedside, he shares a cryptic message that there are those who harbor no ill will towards her actions - a revelation that resonates deeply with the troubled soul before him. Seizing the moment, he palms a slender key into Riley's palm, silently urging her to break free from the shackles of confinement and continue her quest for justice, however misguided it may be.