Rating; 3.5 out of 5
The Plague is an interesting insight into the darkness of adolescent male bullying and while it doesn’t become the psychological thriller it wants to be, it is nevertheless a compelling exploration of what boys are prepared to inflict on others and to suffer to fit in. The acting is exceptional by the young cast.
The Plague is set in the summer of 2003 with a group of twelve and thirteen-year-olds attending water polo summer camp led by their coach Daddy Wags (Joel Edgerton). New arrival Ben (Everett Blunck) wants to fit in with the boys who are led by the popular Jake (Kayo Martin). Ben quickly learns that the boys have ostracised one of the other attendees, Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), because he has developed a skin condition which the boys have labeled “the plague”. Eli is eccentric which the boys also blame on his skin condition, but Ben grows sorry for the boy’s behaviour towards Eli and he develops a secret connection with him. In the locker room, without anyone else around, Ben offers to apply Eli’s anti-fungal cream to his back after he witnesses Eli having trouble applying it himself.
Jake begins a rumor that Ben has also developed “the plague” and while he denies it, he also begins to develop the skin condition on his body. The boys continue to bully Ben, despite Daddy Wags trying to discipline them. Their bullying escalates leading to a tense conclusion.
Director and screenwriter Charlie Polinger wanted to create a psychological thriller like The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Beau Travail, and while he certainly doesn’t reach that level of excellence, those influences are very evident in slivers of the film. Along with cinema photographer Steven Breckon, Polinger creates intensity with the use of light and dark lighting and mixing in Johan Lenox’s sometimes stabbing soundtrack. In some closeup shots of Eli and Ben, Polinger attempts a Kubrick-like sense of insanity in the glare of the boys.
Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin and Kenny Rasmussen are superb in their roles that carry the film. Their skills for such young actors are outstanding and hopefully they are allowed to develop further with more opportunities. They are well supported by the other young actors as the other boys of the group. Edgerton, who is also a producer of the film, is good in his role but has limited scope to excel as the coach.
While The Plague has high ambitions as a psychological thriller that it doesn’t reach, it is still an absorbing study of bullying by young boys and the dark recesses that bullying can reach that is very well acted by the young cast.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Distributor: RialtoDistribution
The Plague opens in cinemas on 12 March 2026
Summary
Psychological thriller want-to-be well acted by young cast.
