The film is set in a rundown, crime ridden neighborhood of Istanbul dubbed "Cholera Street" (Kolera Sokağı).
One night, a prostitute is murdered with her genitals cut out, and this causes fears of a serial killer on the loose called the "Kolera Canavarı" ("Cholera Monster").
Sado is targeted by Reis' men in a drive by shooting and he dies in Salih's arms after giving him his prized pocket knife.
The "Cholera Monster" strikes again and murders "Puma" Zehra (the madame of a brothel) on Salih's watch.
When Salih returns home, he finds Reiss and Tina together in bed; he becomes distraught and cuts himself and bleeds to death.