Seventeen-year-old Caroline Wexler (Kat Dennings) and her father move from a large city to a small town where an industrial fire burns endlessly and many of the students in her new high school seem to be permanently stoned.

One of Caroline's classmates, Thurston Goldberg (Reece Thompson), quickly falls for her after they first meet at a party.

Caroline is attracted to her high school English teacher Mr. Anderson (Josh Lucas) and the two begin to have sex.

Meanwhile, the local TV station, KCRR reports that there is a serial killer who killed a high school cheerleader.

In the meantime, Thurston goes to the Christmas party and almost has sex with another girl, Jenny (Katie Boland) who is obsessed with him.

Ms. Budge shows up at Mr. Anderson's home to tell him the serial killer is dead and takes him to the hospital to treat his injured leg.