The Reel Review
Ben, an anxious 12-year-old struggling to fit in with a controlling clique of mean boys at a water polo camp, finds his social position in jeopardy when he refuses to ostracize and bully a socially awkward boy with a skin rash, whom the vicious bullies have cruelly labelled as having “the plague.” When the boys also accuse Ben of having the plague, he starts to wonder if it is real. Everett Blunck and Joel Edgerton star in this psychological body horror/thriller.
This feature film debut by writer/director Charlie Polinger is a feel-bad, anxiety-inducing story reminiscent of “Lord of the Flies” that will conjure up chilling childhood memories for anyone who has endured bullying as a kid. On the heels of his starring role as a precocious aspiring playwright in the 2025 LGBTQ+ comedy Griffin in Summer, Blunck and Kayo Martin, as the leader of the bullies, give shockingly convincing performances with a solid assist by Joel Edgerton as the well-meaning water polo coach trying to maintain control over an overwhelming number of hateful little pricks.
Although pacing does lag at times, effectively dour cinematography, body horror and a chilling score helps maintain a sense of anxiety-inducing dread throughout the film. The “plague” of course, is a metaphor for social isolation and how it can mess with perceptions of reality. The film is so well done that it will likely turn off most viewers, but regardless, it is an impressive debut.
REEL FACTS
• Montana-born Everett Blunck’s performance in The Plague earned him a Best Lead Performance nomination by the Independent Spirit Awards.
• The Plague is the acting debut for world champion skateboarder Kayo Martin. The New York native’s performance earned him a win for Best Breakthrough Performance by the Independent Spirit Awards.
• The Plague was filmed in Bucharest, Romania.
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