Set in the near future the film focuses on Arnold Mosk (Neil Patrick Morris) a high school student caught abusing drugs. Consequently he's enrolled in a controversial isolation programme nicknamed 'The Animal Room'. The 'Room' is a no holds barred arena designed to hold the most troubled youth and Arnold's life soon comes under threat. He is terrorised by the 'Room's gang leader Doug Van Housen (Matthew Lillard) a reckless delinquent with little care for life or society. However when Arnold's childhhod friend Gary a popular school athlete tries to save him they all get caught up in a cycle of violence leading to a near-apocalyptic conclusion.