Plot
Years after the zombie apocalypse, the scattered remnants of human civilization have established a chain of protected city-states across North America. One such sanctuary is located in downtown Pittsburgh, ruled by a feudal-like government. Bordered on two sides by rivers and barricaded on the third with an electrified fence guarded by a militia, the city has become a relatively secure haven. Outside the city's barriers are barren countryside and dilapidated suburban towns long deserted by humans but overrun with numerous zombies. The rich and powerful live in a luxury high-rise called "Fiddler's Green", while the rest of the population subsists in squalor. All forms of commerce within this protected zone are controlled by Paul Kaufman, the city's ruthless plutocratic ruler who owns Dead Reckoning, an armored personnel vehicle that can easily travel through zombie-infested areas.
Riley Denbo, Dead Reckoning's designer and commander, and his crew pilot the vehicle into the no-man's-land to scavenge for necessary food and medical supplies for the citizens as well as luxury items to use as a means of barter within Kaufman's oppressive oligarchic regime. On one mission, they notice many zombies exhibiting intelligent behavior, especially former gas station attendant "Big Daddy". During the mission, rookie Mike is bitten by a zombie while trying to grab scattered cigarettes. Soon afterwards, Riley and Charlie Houk arrived. Realising that Mike has been bitten, Cholo DeMora initially intend to end his life but Riley shoots the undead instead. With no choice, Mike commits suicide, rather than being turned.
After the mission, Riley retires from commanding Dead Reckoning. Weary of a marginal existence in a post-apocalyptic city, he plans to depart for Canada once repairs on his car are finished. Back in the city, he discovers his car missing and he visits a pimp named Chihuahua, whose men were supposed to be fixing it. At Chihuahua's joint, he sees a prostitute named Slack being forced into a cage with some zombies to entertain guests. Riley and his best friend Charlie rescue Slack; after Charlie kills Chihuahua in the ensuing chaos, the trio are arrested. Slack reveals that Kaufman ordered her execution for assisting a resistance leader named Mulligan.
Meanwhile, Cholo is denied an apartment in Fiddler's Green despite assisting Kaufman in eradicating his political enemies. Cholo commandeers the vehicle and threatens to destroy Fiddler's Green unless Kaufman pays him a $5,000,000 ransom. Kaufman approaches Riley and tasks him, Charlie and Slack, with retrieving the vehicle.
After catching up with Dead Reckoning, Riley approaches the vehicle alone. Realizing Riley is working for Kaufman, Cholo holds both him and Charlie at gunpoint. As Cholo prepares to fire Dead Reckoning's missiles at Fiddler's Green, Riley deactivates the weapons systems remotely. Kaufman's stooge Motown opens fire and nearly kills both Riley and Cholo, but is bitten by a zombie and killed by Slack. Riley asks Cholo to come with him, but Cholo opts to confront Kaufman at Fiddler's Green. While en route, Cholo is bitten by a zombie, while Riley returns to Fiddler's Green in Dead Reckoning.
Big Daddy leads a legion of zombies across the river where they breach the perimeter fence, overpower the border guards, and invade the city. Kaufman flees but encounters a zombified Cholo in the parking garage, where Big Daddy kills both of them with an exploding propane tank. Riley's group manages to escape, where they use missiles to mercy-kill people being devoured by the zombies. Mulligan appears, revealing he rescued most of the poor people; he and Riley bid each other farewell before parting with their groups. Witnessing Big Daddy and the zombies leaving the city, sparing the surviving humans, Riley similarly decides to spare them, realizing that they also seek sanctuary. After lighting the remaining fireworks, Riley's group embarks for Canada on Dead Reckoning.
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