The Plague

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1:30

The Plague

R

In Theaters Dec 24

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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21 Reviews

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In the summer of 2003, at an all-boys summer water polo camp, socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben struggles to fit in amidst a ruthless social hierarchy. When he befriends Eli -- a lonely, acne-ridden outcast shunned by the others for allegedly carrying a contagious "plague" -- Ben becomes entangled in a cruel, escalating ritual of scapegoating and fear. As the lines between teasing and real harm blur, Ben is forced to confront his own complicity and the terrifying cost of belonging. A tense, darkly humorous coming-of-age story about masculinity, peer pressure, and the horrors that fester when cruelty masquerades as a game.

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In Theaters Dec 24

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Charlie Polinger

Director

Joel Edgerton

Daddy Wags

Everett Blunck

Ben

Kayo Martin

Jake

Kenny Rasmussen

Eli

Lennox Espy

Julian

Tomris Laffly

Elle

Jun 10

A terrific debut that brings thriller vibes to an all-boys summer camp for water polo, this brilliantly written feature ingeniously utilizes the staple moves of horror.

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Jessica Kiang

Variety

May 17

Drawn from experience and benefiting from some standout performances among its well-selected young cast, The Plague has a familiar coming-of-age narrative, but stranger, subtler undercurrents of creeping dismay at the men these boys will become.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

May 17

Charlie Polinger dives into familiar waters with confident direction of young performers and an ability to wring tension even with a story that is on a relatively predictable rail.

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Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

Nov 28

Polinger’s careful not to provide any catharsis or relief.

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Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

Nov 18

9/10

The Plague is an incredible debut that is both beautifully made and terrifying to watch, and deserves every bit of acclaim it has earned.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Nov 18

B

Polinger looks to make an intensely atmospheric offering. It doesn’t quite come together in full, but there are moments where the material is chillingly authentic and difficult to process.

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Synopsis

In the summer of 2003, at an all-boys summer water polo camp, socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben struggles to fit in amidst a ruthless social hierarchy. When he befriends Eli -- a lonely, acne-ridden outcast shunned by the others for allegedly carrying a contagious "plague" -- Ben becomes entangled in a cruel, escalating ritual of scapegoating and fear. As the lines between teasing and real harm blur, Ben is forced to confront his own complicity and the terrifying cost of belonging. A tense, darkly humorous coming-of-age story about masculinity, peer pressure, and the horrors that fester when cruelty masquerades as a game.

Director: Charlie Polinger
Producer: Lizzie Shapiro, Lucy McKendrick, Joel Edgerton, Steven Schneider, Roy Lee, Derek Dauchy
Screenwriter: Charlie Polinger
Distributor: Independent Film Company
Production Co: Five Henrys Productions, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Spooky Pictures, The Space Program, Hellcat
Rating: R (Some Drug and Alcohol Use|Language|Sexual Material|Self-Harm/Bloody Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 24, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 38m