In a colourless, post-apocalyptic futuristic society - known as The Collective - inhabitants have been genetically modified between conception and birth to be "emotion-free." Emotion, love, and sex have been outlawed and are considered dangerous to society with punishment of death for anyone breaking the law. Silas (Nicholas Hoult), an illustrator in The Collective, mysteriously starts experiencing feelings and finds himself drawn to his co-worker Nia (Kristen Stewart). As they desperately try to keep their feelings for each other secret, with the authorities closing in, they realise escape may be their only option.