The film stars Ansel Elgort, Chloë Grace Moretz, Catherine Keener, and David Strathairn.

In the present, teenaged Addison is mailing his application to the University of Chicago, accompanied by his friend Phoebe Zeleny.

Fed up with the authorities' dismissiveness about the shooting and everyone's eagerness to forget, Addison starts his own investigation into Kevin's murder.

When Addison asks Kevin's parents if they have any information about why he was murdered, they say he had become secretive and show him a drug stash.

Noel and D Cash reveal that Kevin disrespected a powerful drug dealer at a nightclub several days before he was killed, and they agree to give Addison the name of a guy who was there that night, only if he makes a drug delivery to Chevy Chase (an affluent neighborhood they cannot get into).

Lorinner holds Addison at gunpoint, and reveals that the drug dealer that Kevin disrespected was in fact D Cash.

As the police arrive (presumably called by Phoebe), Addison rushes a momentarily distracted Lorinner, who shoots him in the shoulder and runs off.

Phoebe visits the recovering Addison in the hospital, telling him Lorinner, D Cash, and Noel were all arrested by police.

In their final meeting before leaving for college, Phoebe hands Addison an envelope containing the train schedule between Chicago and New Haven.

[citation needed] In January 2015, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions acquired North American and international distribution rights to the film.

[8] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The starry chemistry of leads Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moretz injects a modicum of energy into the coming-of-age drama, whose elements of romance, crime and smart-kid angst never coalesce.