Two irreverent altar boys, Andy and Charlie, often skip classes after attending funerals at their school's chapel. One night, their friend Bobby seeks refuge at Andy's house, leading to an unexpected turn of events when they hear at a funeral that Bobby has been expelled and will be replaced by the new kid, David. Unlike their mischievous personalities, David is significantly different, yet the pair quickly befriends him. Matters are complicated when Charlie harbors resentment towards an older boy named Ryan, who cheated him out of cigarettes.
As their friendship evolves, they learn from a girl named Amanda that David is not just a newcomer; he was once an actor who starred in the well-received film Bloody Knuckles, where, according to critics, the lead actress has a revealing scene. The trio's curiosity piques, leading them to a plan to shoplift the film from a local DVD store. However, there are whispers that the store owner, Iggy, is dangerous and once pulled a gun on Bobby.
That same night, driven by curiosity, the boys decide to explore the trunk that Bobby left behind but struggle to unlock it. The neighbor's dog unexpectedly joins their little adventure. Their quest for the film leads them back to the DVD store, where Andy and David distract Iggy while Charlie sneaks into a backroom. In a chaotic turn of events, they discover more than they bargained for when Charlie stumbles upon explicit DVDs and is caught by Ryan, who locks him in a backroom, leaving him feeling trapped. Amid the tension, Charlie finds rifles in the basement. Though they manage to escape without the explicit content or Bloody Knuckles, they are left feeling uneasy.
The next day during lunch, Charlie hears from their friend Felix that a girl he once liked gave Bobby oral sex, which leads to jealousy and confusion. In a subsequent attempt to unlock the trunk, Andy acquires bolt cutters, revealing a stash of cigarettes, adult magazines, liquor, firecrackers, and even a revolver. David's backstory is uncovered, revealing he moved into town due to his parents' separation after he caught his father cheating.
Charlie, eager to show off his newfound treasure, reveals the gun to Felix and they skip school to procure some bullets from the DVD store, only to be met unexpectedly by Iggy, uncovering that the store is a front for a drug operation. In a close escape, they acquire the bullets but now face an increased sense of risk.
As the night of a party unfolds, Charlie attempts to impress Amanda's sister, Lindsey, inadvertently spilling beer on her, which leads to a bonding moment. Lindsey invites him to another party, inflating Charlie's confidence. However, when he returns for her phone number, he finds her kissing Ryan, shattering his spirits. Hurt and angry, Charlie retaliates by vandalizing Ryan's car post-party, igniting discord between him and Andy.
The following day, during a careless gunplay session, an accident occurs leading to the neighbor's dog being shot. Charlie feels the weight of guilt, while David and Andy wrap the injured dog in a sheet and rush it to the vet. Sadly, their efforts are in vain as the dog succumbs to its injuries. In an unexpected twist, the neighbors express gratitude toward the boys for their attempt to save the dog; however, David refuses any payment. The neighbor, recognizing David, requests an autograph on his copy of Bloody Knuckles. While leaving, Charlie impulsively steals the DVD, and the group gathers to watch it, only to be disappointed upon discovering there was no nude scene, leaving them with a sense of anticlimax. In a final confrontation, when Bobby comes to collect his trunk, Charlie tells him it's gone and rides home, leaving behind a tangled mix of friendship, betrayal, and youthful recklessness.
