The film is set in the fictional Brooklyn housing projects of Dempsy, where the lives of two characters intersect: Strike Dunham (played by Mekhi Phifer), a low-level drug dealer, and Rocco Klein (played by Harvey Keitel), a seasoned homicide detective.
Strike is a “clocker,” a street-level drug dealer who works under the supervision of his older and more ruthless cousin, Rodney (played by Delroy Lindo). Despite the allure of quick money, Strike is conflicted about his involvement in the drug trade and dreams of finding a way out of the projects.
Meanwhile, Rocco is assigned to investigate the murder of a local drug dealer, which initially appears to be a simple case of street violence. However, as Rocco delves deeper into the investigation, he begins to uncover a complex web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that lead him to suspect that the truth behind the murder may be more complicated than it seems.
As the investigation progresses, tensions rise between Strike and Rodney, who suspects that Strike may know more about the murder than he’s letting on. Strike finds himself caught between loyalty to his family and his desire to break free from the cycle of violence and poverty that surrounds him.
As the film unfolds, it explores themes of race, poverty, crime, and the criminal justice system, offering a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in inner-city America. Through its multi-layered narrative and complex characters, “Clockers” paints a nuanced picture of the challenges faced by those living on society’s margins and the choices they must make to survive.