The Plague

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The Plague

R

2025

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified 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 Consensus

Steeped in disquieting mood without ever treading water, The Plague takes common adolescent anxieties and elevates them into an unforgettable chiller.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

Apr 21

4/5

The three young performers stand out in their unfiltered rawness: Blunck clammily eager to please and increasingly disturbed; Martin intimidating despite his tiny stature; Rasmussen stretching a cartoon geek role into genuinely unsettling outsiderdom.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Mar 11

4/5

It’s a very clever screenplay with unsettling shafts of black humour and perfect pacing.

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Kyle Logan

Chicago Reader

Jan 21

Rather than deliver any sense of tension and release or thematic heft, The Plague remains a sometimes beautifully realized but ultimately hollow and frustrating hour and a half spent with selfish tween boys.

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Nick Boyd

Battle Royale With Cheese

May 4

The acting and writing in The Plague feel very authentic, and the film quite effectively depicts the struggles and social relationships of adolescents finding their way in an often cruel world...

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Randy Meeks

Espinof

May 1

4/5

In today's world, cinema demands less and less from its viewers, who are eager for disposable content. 'The Plague', however, requires a lively, intelligent audience, fully engaged with the story. [Full review in Spanish]

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Javier Ocaña

El Pais (Spain)

Apr 30

On the one hand, [Charlie Polinger's] excellent hand at directing actors (especially children) is evident. On the other, it is his powerful vision and filmmaking style that ultimately round out an excellent work. [Full review in Spanish]

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Juandi

Feb 3

What a great cast of young actors. The movie has a lot of heart but the one major critique I have is that it lacks a climax. If there is one, it’s highly underwhelming. Good effort but falls short.

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John C

Jan 18

Requires patience but more than well worth it. Subtle but builds to a walloping impact overall, despite its subtilty. Or perhaps because of it. Really exceptional, especially for such a sensitive and complex topic.

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Aspen

Jan 12

There is no beginning and no end too this movie. No TRUE plot line , just boys being bullied under the disguise of thriller with their being 0 thrill aspect. BUT the acting of these young actors was incredible which is the only redeeming factor of this movie.

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Mick E

Jan 8

Terrifying, Triggering, Great acting & direction.

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jesse v

Jan 8

you know, having only one adult that the adultery-written kids rely on doesn't make this movie about bullying in a gigantic pool academy with tons of other people around any clear like water.

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Barbara

Jan 7

The lead actor— Everett Blunck—gives a phenomenal performance.

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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: Trailer 1

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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
Distributor: Independent Film Company
Production Co: Five Henrys Productions, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Spooky Pictures, The Space Program, Hellcat
Rating: R (Sexual Material|Self-Harm/Bloody Images|Language|Some Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 24, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 3, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $684.0K
Runtime: 1h 38m