In Mexico City, kidnapping is a business. The wealthy and their families are targets for criminals looking to ransom those of value. Bodyguards are a standard for most families, and Samuel Ramos needs to hire a new one to protect his daughter.
Enter John Creasey, a veteran military man and former assassin, burned out on his long career of combat and espionage.
Creasy's friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) sets him up to be a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita, Samuel's daughter. Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a youngster, but for lack of something better to do, he accepts the assignment.
Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defences drop, and he opens up to her. They become friends and he replaces her parents in their absences, giving her advice, guidance and help with her competition swimming.
Creasy's new-found purpose in life is shattered when Pita is kidnapped. Despite being seriously wounded during the kidnapping, he vows to kill anyone involved in or profiting from the kidnapping.
Only a select few know of Creasey's mission such as Rayburn and a detective named Manzano (Giancarlo Giannini), who tries to understand Creasy's mission but also trying to stop the killing.
With grisly efficiency, Creasey takes apart the corrupt organization that is responsible for not only Pita's kidnapping but many throughout Mexico City.
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This article is licensed under the
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"Man on Fire".