Trama

A series of bank robberies and car heists frightens communities in the Pacific Northwest. A lone FBI agent believes that the crimes were not the work of financially motivated criminals but rather a group of dangerous domestic terrorists.

In 1983, a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. As baffled law enforcement agents scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent (Law), stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, came to believe the crimes were not the work of traditional, financially motivated criminals but a group of dangerous domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader (Hoult), plotting a devastating war against the federal government of the United States.

In 1983, Bruce Pierce (Sebastian Pigott) and Gary Yarbrough (George Tchortov) lure Walter West (Daniel Doheny) out into the woods at night under the ruse of a hunting trip, and murder him.

Veteran FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) reopens the long-vacant field office in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, looking for an easier caseload after working on investigations of the Ku Klux Klan and Cosa Nostra, and hoping he can persuade his estranged wife and daughter to reconnect with him. On December 18th, in Spokane, Washington, Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult), Pierce, Yarbrough, and David Lane (Phillip Forest Lewitski) rob a Washington Mutual branch.

Bob is having an affair with Zillah Craig (Odessa Young) who is pregnant with his child, even though he is married to his wife Debbie (Alison Oliver). He has a son with Debbie named Clinton (Huxley Fisher). Bob is building a militia and the bank money was to fund the same. Bob brings in Sam Stinston (Bradley Stryker) a veteran, to train his militia. Stinston also has access to weapons and can get whatever the group needs. Stinston is offered a salary of $1000 per month, which is more than what he can expect to make anywhere else.

After reviewing a case file on Aryan Nations and its founder Richard Butler (Victor Slezak), Husk introduces himself to the local sheriff's department led by Sheriff Loftlin (Philip Granger) and meets Deputy Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), who offers to show him to Butler's compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

Bowen tells Husk that West, now missing for several weeks, is a member of Aryan Nations who told him the group is counterfeiting money. Bowen suspects that the group is also responsible for a recent synagogue bombing, as well as a string of robberies, including the one in Spokane. Bowen is married to Kimmy (Morgan Holmstrom).

Husk meets with fellow FBI agent Joanne Carney (Jurnee Smollett), who tells him that a failed bomb was found in a pornography shop in Spokane around the same time as the robbery. This bomb was supposed to be a distraction for the police, so that the robbers could rob the bank without any interference from law enforcement.

Bowen and Husk meet West's wife Bonnie Sue (Geena Meszaros) who says that West went hunting with 2 of his friends and never came back. He has been gone for 3 weeks. Bonnie admits that West went to Bruce's place, but won't say it in front of Husk, as they are a close-knit community in Coeur D'Alene. West's wife points Husk and Bowen to where Pierce and Yarbrough took him hunting, and they discover his body in a shallow grave.

Husk and Bowen visit Butler at his compound, who tells them that he ejected Pierce and Yarbrough from Aryan Nations for using the group's printing press to counterfeit and denies knowledge of their subsequent activities. Husk tells Butler that the strays from his church are forming their own splinter groups and getting powerful. Husk says that if Butler does not take control of the strays, he could lose control of the entire community. As they leave, Husk notices a book on display in the compound's church, a copy of which was also found at the scene of West's murder. Butler identifies it as the white supremacist novel The Turner Diaries.

A new recruit named Tony Torres is introduced to Bob Matthews. Tony lost his job to immigrants and was shot at by an immigrant when he was in school. Tony was so traumatized that he never finished school and got his diploma.

Afterwards, Butler confronts Mathews about his splinter group's activities. While Butler seeks to work within the law and elect white supremacists to public office, Mathews aims to promote white separatism through domestic terrorism. Mathews' message gets more traction from Butler's church as people identify with his message of losing jobs and losing their dignity. Mathews says that the time for talking is over and now it is the time to fight. Butler has his assistant deliver a copy of The Turner Diaries to Bowen's home.

Yarbrough bombs a pornographic theater as a distraction for Mathews to lead the robbery of an armored truck. Refusing to wait for backup, Husk attempts to stop the robbery but is outnumbered, while Bowen freezes and does not engage, angering Husk.

Bowen studies The Turner Diaries and explains to Husk that he believes the splinter group, now calling itself The Order, is using the novel as a blueprint for overthrowing the federal government and igniting a race war. The book outlines a 6-step process including recruiting, fund raising, armed revolution, domestic terror, assassination and finally the day of the rope.

Mathews sends Pierce to Denver to assassinate Alan Berg (Marc Maron), a Hebrew talk radio host who frequently spars on-air with anti-Hebrews that call into his show. Alan would frequently say that the fundamentalists are too inept and hence they are compelled to spoil the enjoyment of others with their activities.

The group then holds up an armored car on a remote California highway, getting away with millions in cash. Husk knows that this amount of cash can buy Mathews an entire army.

A gun dropped at the crime scene leads police to Tony Torres (Matias Lucas), a new recruit who straw purchased guns for Mathews. Torres turns informant and leads police to a meeting with Mathews. Husk once again does not wait for backup and attempts to arrest Mathews, triggering a shootout. This time Bowen springs into action and provides covering fire. Yarbrough is apprehended, while Mathews shoots and kills Bowen as he makes his escape. Mathews' wallet is found from the meeting location, leading the team to Debbie. Debbie gives Husk the location of Mathews' hideout and says that he will never be taken alive.

Mathews retreats with Pierce and Lane to his safe house on Whidbey Island, Washington, planning to "declare war" on the federal government and stage a major terrorist attack. Pierce and Lane try to escape and are immediately apprehended, while Mathews makes a stand, repelling the FBI as they attempt to storm the house. The FBI tactical team orders the house to be burned to force Mathews out. When Matthews fails to emerge, Husk enters alone, hoping to persuade Mathews to surrender. Husk is forced to retreat when the fire detonates a large cache of ammunition, killing Mathews.