 In 2003 in <unk> City , the story opens with a news anchor ( Kate Miller ) reporting on James Earl Cash ( Stephen <unk> ) , a death row prisoner recently executed by a lethal injection . In reality however , Cash awakens to hear a voice coming from an earpiece , revealing his lethal injection was only a sedative . The voice , who refers to himself as " The Director " , promises Cash his freedom , but only if Cash follows his instructions . He must move through an abandoned section of the city being patrolled by a gang called " The Hoods " , murdering them as he goes , all being filmed by CCTV . Cash successfully dispatches the Hoods , but despite the Director 's promise of freedom , he is beaten and thrown into the back of a van by a group of private security experts called " The Cerberus " . 
