Film Review – The Plague (2025)

      The Plague, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Charlie Polinger.

      Featuring Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, Joel Edgerton, Lucas Adler, Kolton Lee, Caden Burris, Elliott Heffernan, and Lennox Espy.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A socially awkward preteen navigates the harsh social hierarchy at a water polo camp, with his anxiety escalating into psychological distress over the summer.

      Set in a water polo summer camp in 2003, writer/director Charlie Polinger’s The Plague offers a stark portrayal of hazing during a formative period in life and its impact on the psyche. The film’s message, while straightforward—that it’s vital to be true to oneself amidst bullying and to support marginalized peers—comes through compellingly, highlighting the brutal reality of male aggression and effectively capturing its era and environment.

      Ben (Everett Blunck, who has already delivered a remarkable performance this year with Griffin in Summer, shines yet again in this role as a conflicted character) is a newcomer at this water polo camp, and it doesn’t take long for him to understand the dynamics and identify the key players. Jake (Kayo Martin, convincingly portraying a bully with his captivating expressions and an almost cult-like ability to sway those around him) heads a particularly malevolent group, still convinced that relentless teasing and mocking signify true friendship. This unchecked male toxicity raises questions about their home lives, although details are limited.

      Jake's cruelest act so far involves persuading his peers that Eli (Kenny Rasmussen, impressively balancing between creepy and innocently misunderstood), an outsider who won’t swim shirtless due to rashes on his back, is afflicted with a plague that he could transmit. Ben recognizes this behavior as wrong and privately appreciates Eli's uniqueness; he’s nerdy, has a deep voice, is unbothered by others' opinions when dancing with an anime girl cutout, and performs alarming magic tricks that create the illusion of severing his finger, which intrigues Ben despite the fear it evokes.

      Nevertheless, Jake and his reckless group symbolize popularity. Acknowledging Eli, despite his odd demeanor resembling a character from The Omen, as mostly normal and enjoyable to be around would not enhance their social standing. This friend group sneaks out at night, vandalizes property, poses absurd questions about orgasms connected to a popular song of the time, and generally embodies the typical immaturity expected from teens in the early 2000s. The film captures this authenticity, supported by a disorienting score and beautifully composed underwater swimming sequences that contribute to the story’s intense unease.

      Some aspects may feel slightly contrived, such as the apparent lack of adult oversight at the camp, aside from the somewhat oblivious water polo coach (Joel Edgerton), who acknowledges the bullying happening under his watch but lacks the means to effectively address it. Even at night, as bullying persists with loud noises and screams nearby, it seems unrealistic for no adults to be present. However, this can be overlooked considering the primal and raw depiction of growing pains during an era when political correctness was not prioritized, leading to the sometimes cruel dynamics amongst teenage boys under the pretense of friendship or idolization.

      The Plague builds to a striking, haunting visual moment that could resonate in body horror discussions while conveying a deeper narrative significance. This type of metaphorical storytelling effectively intertwines with the characters and their authentically unsettling behaviors.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder