Avengement (2019) Plot Summary & Timeline

Cain Burgess, a seasoned prisoner with a troubled past, finds himself embroiled in a violent and chaotic series of events that reveal his complex character. The story begins with Cain being escorted by police to a hospital, where he receives tragic news of his mother’s death. Overcome with emotion, he witnesses her body and, in a sudden surge of desperation and anger, manages to escape from custody. His escape leads him to a private bar, where he aggressively forces his way inside by attacking the bouncers at the door.

While inside the bar, Cain, who appears out of place and volatile, orders a drink and unexpectedly overhears a conversation between some patrons. One of them, a man named Tune, is recounting how an unknown assailant murdered a fellow gangster named Rook. Cain, overhearing the story and seemingly amused by the details, interrupts with a loud laugh, drawing immediate hostility from Tune, the other patrons, and the barmaid, Bez. Cain tries to assert himself by claiming to be a friend of the bar’s owner, Lincoln Burgess, played by [Craig Fairbrass], and this leads to a violent brawl. During the chaos, Cain pulls out a sawed-off shotgun, taking everyone inside hostage in a display of raw intimidation.

The situation escalates when Lincoln’s loyal subordinate, Hyde, arrives on the scene. Recognizing Cain as Lincoln’s younger brother, Hyde also becomes a hostage. Cain’s rage is apparent as he blames Hyde and Lincoln for his own violent and turbulent life, even shooting a patron in the kneecap when they attempt to intervene. As the standoff continues, Cain begins to narrate flashes of his harrowing past, revealing his background as a former martial artist with a fierce and quick temper. Cain’s troubled history includes his time in London’s notorious HMP Belmarsh prison, where he had to fight to survive among violent criminals.

The story delves deeper into Cain’s past, illustrating how he once aimed to leave behind a life of crime. His skills in martial arts earned him respect but also drew the attention of loan sharks and gangs. Seeking a fresh start, Cain approached Lincoln for financial help to invest in a legitimate business, but instead, he was pulled deeper into criminal activities. Lincoln and his gang manipulated Cain into robbing a woman who had retrieved a package for Lincoln’s operation. The chase turned deadly when the woman was run over and killed by an oncoming car, ultimately leading to Cain’s arrest and a manslaughter charge.

While in custody, Detective [Louis Mandylor]’s character explains that Lincoln’s criminal enterprise relies on a scam that involves setting up targets to owe him money, thus maintaining control over them. Cain’s refusal to cooperate with the police results in Sgt. Evans, played by [Ross O’Hennessy], beating him and securing a harsh sentence in one of the UK’s most violent prisons. Facing constant danger, Cain’s fighting skills are pushed to the limit, and his temper turns deadly as he kills to survive, eventually becoming a bloodthirsty, cold-blooded killer.

Years pass, and the story comes full circle as Cain uncovers that Lincoln has placed a £20,000 bounty on his head. Despite his past and ongoing battles, Cain remains determined to find and confront his brother. He agrees to give himself up if he can visit his dying mother in the hospital, but by the time he arrives, it’s too late — she has passed away. Frustrated and heartbroken, Cain escapes custody violently after overpowering the police officers assigned to guard him.

Later that night, Lincoln tracks him down, and the two confront each other once again. Lincoln, naïve to Cain’s true emotional state, pleads with him, not recognizing the transformation Cain has undergone. After Hyde mocks and insults Cain’s past, Cain’s patience snaps—he shoots and kills Hyde, a decisive act of violence that signifies his complete break from his former self. Lincoln, realizing that Cain’s pain runs even deeper than he thought, admits to having ordered a hit on Cain, revealing his own motives rooted in lost respect and pride.

Cain, now deeply angry and vengeful, proves that he has emptied Lincoln’s bank account of the stolen ten million pounds, and declares his intent to kill his brother. He offers others the chance to leave, but chaos erupts as Lincoln’s crew and Bez, played by [Kierston Wareing], fight to stop him. Cain battles through them all, killing most of Lincoln’s men and sustaining injuries himself. Despite the brutality, Cain is resolute — he ultimately confronts Lincoln in a deadly showdown, stabbing him in a vicious fight.

In the aftermath, Lincoln admits that he never cared whether he was truly respected; he simply couldn’t handle losing face after the rumors of Cain’s supposed betrayal. The climax culminates with Cain fatally stabbing Lincoln and, exhausted and battered, stumbling out of the bar. He collapses on a nearby bench, a victim of his own vengeance and relentless pursuit of justice for his past. The story concludes with Detective O’Hara discovering that Cain, in his rage and desperation, has taken the stolen £2 million from Lincoln’s bank account and distributed it among 147 victims, symbolizing a twisted form of recompense for his suffering and loss.