As the body count around her rises, a teen is shocked to learn that her overprotective dad is willing to do anything to keep her close, even murder.

18-year-old Zoey is heartbroken to learn that her boyfriend has died in a tragic accident. Adding to her heartache, none of the colleges she applied to have responded, and her mom doesn’t show up for her graduation. Little does Zoey know that her dad, Noah, has been destroying the acceptance letters as they arrive to make sure Zoey has to live at home and go to community college. Zoey really wants the full college experience, even though it means leaving her dad.

Zoey’s mom, Sharon, drops by after graduation to give her a gift. When Sharon learns that Zoey hasn’t heard back from any colleges, she tells her not to worry. She knows a few deans and is sure she can get her into a good school. Noah fumes over Sharon’s interference and knows he must stop her from enrolling Zoey anywhere else. That night, Noah breaks into Sharon’s house and suffocates her.

Reeling from her mom’s unexpected death, Zoey struggles to find something meaningful in her life. While visiting her favorite clothing store, she is offered a job by Jerry, the flamboyant owner. When Noah finds out about the job and can’t push Zoey to quit, he comes up with another plan - he finds out Jerry is cheating on his husband with a congressman and threatens to show pictures of them together unless he fires Zoey. Jerry has no choice but to comply.

Noah offers Zoey an office job at his construction site. Randy, one of his workers, has an eye for her. While shopping with Zoey, Noah runs into Janice, a lady he barely knows but sees at the store often. Zoey has her sights set on Scott, a handsome produce worker.

At the office, Randy is forceful with Zoey and Noah walks in on them. He roughs Randy up and fires him. Randy leaves on an angry note. That night, Noah takes Janice to dinner. Afterward, he leaves Janice at her house in a hurry. Noah goes to Randy’s trailer and drowns him in a pond to make sure that he can never harm Zoey again.

Zoey sets up a date with Scott, and pushes her dad to see Janice again so he won’t be lonely. Noah is irate that his daughter is going out with a stranger but she asserts her independence and threatens to move out if he doesn’t give her space. Janice convinces Noah to calm down. After a nice dinner, Janice and Noah have a passionate romp, during which Noah bruises Janice by being too rough. Seeing that side of him scares Janice and she leaves a hurry.

Noah threatens Scott to stay away from Zoey. Once she finds out, Scott offers to meet with Noah and talk to him. When Zoey arrives home, she finds Scott is dead. Noah uses chloroform on Zoey so he can get control of the situation. Janice senses danger and goes to check on Zoey. After being strangled by Noah, it’s up to Zoey to stop her dad from abducting her. He dies at her hand, and Zoey moves in with Janice, who survived her assault and has bonded with the teen.