In the Vietnam War a fresh recruit Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) struggles to come to terms with the harsh reality of jungle warfare: the heat, the exhaustion and the close proximity to both wildlife and the hidden enemy. After almost causing the destruction of his platoon by freezing up during combat, Taylor becomes embroiled in a conflict between his superiors Sgt. Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Sgt. Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe) when the former is involved in the massacre of an innocent village. This conflict culminates during a climactic battle between Vietnamese and American forces in which Taylor must confront the duality of human nature.