The Equalizer is a American vigilante action-thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk. Washington plays Robert McCall, an ex- Marine and DIA officer , who reluctantly returns to action to protect a teenage trafficking victim from the members of the Russian mafia. Principal photography took place in Massachusetts from May to September The world premiere for The Equalizer was held at Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, and it was released worldwide on September 26, Robert helps his colleague Ralphie train to become a security guard.
Unable to sleep, Robert often spends late nights reading at an all-night diner, where he befriends Teri, a teenage sex worker trafficked by the Russian mafia.
One evening, Teri shares that her real name is Alina and that she dreams of becoming a singer. Robert and Alina take a stroll, but Alina's pimp Slavi abruptly arrives, hits Alina and forces her into a car. Slavi hands Robert a business card for their escort service before driving away. A few nights later, a badly injured Alina is admitted to the ICU at a nearby hospital. Upon hearing the news, Robert learns from her friend Mandy that Slavi is responsible for her condition. Robert finds Slavi and his men at their restaurant and is bluntly refused when he offers to buy Alina's freedom.
Robert swiftly kills Slavi and his henchmen. Unbeknownst to Robert, Slavi and his men are part of a much larger crime syndicate led by Vladimir Pushkin, a Russian oligarch. Teddy Rensen, Pushkin's enforcer, arrives in Boston to investigate the attack. Aided by Boston police detectives on Pushkin's payroll, Teddy canvases rival gangs in the area, nearly beating Irish mob lieutenant "Little John" Looney to death to send a message.
Robert continues exacting vigilante justice on the criminals he encounters. Robert blackmails two corrupt cops into returning racketeering money to Ralphie's mother and beats a gunman with a hammer after the gunman robs the hardware store, taking a coworker's heirloom ring from her.
