The film follows (played by Emile Hirsch ), a straight-laced high school senior and aspiring politician who feels he has spent his life playing it safe. His world is turned upside down when a beautiful and mysterious new neighbor, Danielle ( Elisha Cuthbert ), moves in.

: Cuthbert’s performance was widely praised for adding depth and complexity to a character that could have been a one-dimensional trope.

: Hirsch portrays the transition from a sheltered overachiever to a risk-taker with relatable vulnerability.