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The Plague

Play trailer Poster for The Plague 2025 1h 38m Horror Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
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.

Critics Reviews

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Tomris Laffly Elle 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. Jun 10, 2025 Full Review Jessica Kiang Variety 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. May 17, 2025 Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com 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. May 17, 2025 Full Review David Cuevas Next Best Picture While its inciting premise isn’t necessarily a fresh idea, Polinger executes his familiar bullying narrative with a precise directorial vision. Rated: 8/10 May 29, 2025 Full Review Alex Billington FirstShowing.net Even after watching many other films over the course of the festival, this one still stands out, it still lingers in my mind and the score still haunts me. Rated: 8/10 May 25, 2025 Full Review Ryan McQuade AwardsWatch What elevates the film is the performances from [Everett] Blunck, but especially [Kayo] Martin, who is downright evil in his role as Jake, making for some of the best young actor performances in some time. Rated: B- May 25, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Charlie Polinger

Director

Joel Edgerton

Daddy Wags

Everett Blunck

Ben

Kayo Martin

Jake

Kenny Rasmussen

Eli

Lennox Espy

Julian
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The Plague

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Movie Info

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
Production Co
Five Henrys Productions, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Spooky Pictures, The Space Program, Hellcat
Genre
Horror, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 38m