Max Cady leaves prison after fourteen years and travels to New Essex to confront his former defense attorney, Sam Bowden. Sam previously withheld a report that could have aided Cady's defense in a rape case. Cady begins a campaign of psychological terror against Sam, his wife Leigh Bowden, and their daughter Danielle Bowden. Sam seeks legal advice from Tom Broadbent and hires private investigator Claude Kersek to monitor the situation. As Cady carefully skirts the boundaries of the law, Sam resorts to hiring men to attack him, a move that Cady uses to secure a restraining order against Sam.