Violence begets more violence in Oliver Stone’s gritty thriller about two hapless drug suppliers who are taught a harsh lesson by a powerful drug cartel.

Ben (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his buddy Chon (Taylor Kitsch), a former Navy Seal, make a small fortune by growing marijuana in their southern California town.

Life is good and the two friends are both obsessed with Ophelia (Blake Lively), who showers them with affection.

Then the Mexican Baja Cartel run by Elena (Salma Hayek) and her enforcer, Lado (Benicio del Toro), moves into the town and demands that Ben, Chon and Ophelia work with and not against them.

Corrupt DEA agent Dennis (John Travolta) urges the trio to agree but Ben, Chon and Ophelia decide to continue their low-key operation alone, incurring wrath of the cartel.

When Elena ups the stakes by kidnapping Ophelia, Ben and Chon throw caution to the wind, determined to destroy the cartel using every meagre resource at their disposal.