The story follows John Rambo, a former Green Beret and Medal of Honor recipient, who drifts into the small town of Hope, Washington. After being harassed and arrested for vagrancy by the overzealous Sheriff Will Teasle, Rambo’s traumatic memories of being a prisoner of war are triggered by the police's brutality. He escapes into the mountains, leading the local police and National Guard on a relentless manhunt where he uses his specialized survival skills to fight back.