REVIEW: “The Plague” (2025)

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Charlie Polinger’s first film as director, “The Plague,” is truly impressive. It’s also a difficult watch, as it tackles the serious issue of bullying among young kids with unflinching honesty. This intense drama doesn’t shy away from showing just how cruel ‘playful’ bullying can be, and it realistically portrays the resulting consequences. While often grim, the film is both important and thought-provoking.

The film, written and directed by Polinger, is set in the summer of 2003 at a water polo camp for boys. It follows Ben (Everett Blunck), a shy twelve-year-old who has just moved from Boston. Ben isn’t happy at home, so he welcomes the chance to go away to camp. However, being the new kid is tough, and Ben struggles to fit in with the other boys, though he does find a supportive figure in his coach (Joel Edgerton).

One of the most interesting parts of the story is how Polinger shows even young kids are aware of social groups. The film focuses on a close group of six boys who seem like the popular kids. Ben really wants to be friends with them, and he even puts up with being teased by the group leader, Jake, hoping they’ll accept him.

Beneath his tough exterior, Ben is a decent person, and he’s disturbed by the behavior of his new friends. They’re boisterous and disruptive, but he soon discovers their behavior goes much further, becoming offensive and disrespectful. Even worse, they’re intentionally cruel, particularly towards Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a quiet and unusual boy they single out for mistreatment. Jake falsely accuses Eli of having a contagious illness, which the group uses as an excuse to exclude and ridicule him. Ben, desperate to fit in, fails to recognize how he’s contributing to the problem.

Ben’s sense of right and wrong bothers him, preventing him from becoming as heartless as the others. This inner struggle becomes visible when he shows kindness to Eli, even becoming friends with him in secret. This act immediately makes him a target for Jake, and the group Ben so desperately wanted to be part of now sees him as the enemy. This leads to a devastating series of events, heading towards a troubling and unavoidable conclusion.

The director, Polinger, guides the play with a confident and appealing style, and the cast, largely made up of young actors, delivers some excellent performances. Blunck and Martin are particularly impressive, convincingly portraying very different characters. Blunck subtly reveals Ben’s hidden anxieties and insecurities through his expressions and reactions, creating a quietly powerful and complex performance. Martin, meanwhile, is surprisingly unsettling, masking a ruthless nature with a disarming smile and innocent appearance. He manages to be both frustrating and genuinely frightening.

The movie sheds its predictability in the last act, becoming surprisingly dark and unsettling with moments of shock and body horror. However, the director maintains control throughout. The ending is hopeful, though open to interpretation. Visually, the film is stunning, particularly the dreamlike underwater scenes, and the music creates a consistently eerie atmosphere through its blend of experimental and orchestral sounds.

“The Plague” occasionally feels unfocused, particularly when it comes to developing its characters and explaining their actions. It raises more questions than answers – most notably, why aren’t there any adults in charge? The line between what’s real and symbolic can also be blurry. However, the director demonstrates a powerful and unique vision, skillfully using film techniques to explore a deeply important subject. Ultimately, “The Plague” is an impressive and noteworthy first feature film.

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2026-01-02 23:57