Brad William Henke is Denim, the supervisor for a residential facility housing 15 kids who are all affected by child abuse and neglect in unimaginable ways. Inside the gates of Short Term 12, fights and blow-ups happen daily and Denim knows how to respond. But as his personal life collides with work, he begins to realize that he is no better off than the kids he's trying to help.
The film places viewers within the walls of a real facility and lets them feel what it’s like to live and work in a place where hope is often difficult to find. An all-star ensemble cast radiates in this gritty and honest look at how human beings, no matter the age, inevitably impact each other.