Korean American teenager Bryan wants out of his ruthless gang, the Goblins, setting the stage for gang retribution. On his first day of GED summer school for at-risk students, Bryan meets his new teacher, a tough ex-con and ex-gang member, a middle-aged man on a positive new course in life.

In 1987 Oakland, a mysterious force guides The Town's underdogs in four interconnected tales: teen punks defend their turf against Nazi skinheads, a rap duo battles for hip-hop immortality, a weary henchman gets a shot at redemption, and an NBA All-Star settles the score.