January 2, 2026
FILM: THE PLAGUE
DIRECTED BY: CHARLIE POLINGER
STARRING: JOEL EDGERTON, EVERETT BLUNCK, KAYO MARTIN
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
In the new film The Plague adolescent boys attend a water polo camp in the summer of 2003. It is Ben’s first year there and he has a need to fit in, like most boys do at the age of 12. He notices very quickly that one of the boys, Eli, sits alone from all the others. He’s got a ruddy-looking face with pimples and wears a blue long-sleeved shirt. Ben finds out that the other boys don’t want to be near him because they think he has The Plague. Ben is curious about Eli and even shows some empathy for him. However, bullying develops around both boys, raising several questions about how such a situation is handled by adults and why such a negative culture exists.
Charlie Polinger is the writer/director of the film and based it on his own experiences at the same age. What he captures is the need boys seem to have to be included, to not stand apart, and to follow whatever the normative “rules” are. All of them are in their own ways awkward but how they survive and excel has more to do with how they conform to each other. Ben is an interesting character because he does see both perspectives. He is taunted for his unique accent in which he doesn’t pronounce his “T’s.” Not surprisingly, he’s given a nickname which corresponds to the impediment. He attempts to fight the teasing for as long as he can. He wants to be part of the “in” crowd but also wants to understand Eli. The film is basically told through his perspective. He’s also given the most depth as a character: He’s a vegetarian, he takes risks, he stands up for himself and tries to see through the ridiculousness of boys pushing their plague ideas. Young actor Everett Blunck does a masterful job of letting subtle glances demonstrate Ben’s growing concerns about what he sees around him. Eventually things turn sour for Ben as he begins to butt heads with “lead” bully Jake.
Joel Edgerton, who also serves as a producer of the film, plays the swimming coach. He attempts to straighten the problems out through lectures but ultimately his presence is lacking during the more intense moments of bullying. When one of the boys calls home to be picked up, he is instead forced to remain under the coach’s less than ideal supervision. Part of what the film is exploring is the lack of attention adults give to the difficult culture within groups of adolescent boys. Of course, they are still boys and even Ben has his own doubts at times which threatens any sense of self-assuredness he does have. It’s easy to convince oneself that maybe the others are right without some solid social or parental guidance.
For a first-time film, Polinger does a pretty remarkable job of making this a visually and emotionally exciting work of art. He uses several inventive camera movements and perspectives to capture activity in the pool. In fact, the underwater shots are equally beautiful and menacing. He even attempts a bit of Busby Berkeley choreography when a group of girls at the camp are engaged in their own forms of water ballet. The group is shot from above almost recreating Busby’s classic movie pool scenes. On the sound side, Polinger’s use of what appears to be a manipulated choir for music is equally effective at creating a haunting and disturbing atmosphere.
Near the end, there is a scene that echoes the terror that was present in Brian DePalma’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie. The school dance setting and the way one of the characters walks suggests the possible evil that could be simmering under the pain of bullying (something the character of Carrie, played by Sissy Spacek, knew all about.) While the film abounds with associated dangers such as self-harm and intense cruelty, it is also cautioning viewers to be more aware of the negative behavior that exists within groups of adolescents. Being silent might be a way for them to try to fit in but it can also do more deep psychological harm in the long run. The answer may be for young people to always strive to be themselves, although even that could lead to other risks. The lesson is clear though: teachers, parents, and responsible kids should make themselves more aware of the bullying around them. Destructive and dangerous outcomes could result without someone speaking up.
The Plague is now playing in limited release, including the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.
FILM: THE PLAGUE
DIRECTED BY: CHARLIE POLINGER
STARRING: JOEL EDGERTON, EVERETT BLUNCK, KAYO MARTIN
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
In the new film The Plague adolescent boys attend a water polo camp in the summer of 2003. It is Ben’s first year there and he has a need to fit in, like most boys do at the age of 12. He notices very quickly that one of the boys, Eli, sits alone from all the others. He’s got a ruddy-looking face with pimples and wears a blue long-sleeved shirt. Ben finds out that the other boys don’t want to be near him because they think he has The Plague. Ben is curious about Eli and even shows some empathy for him. However, bullying develops around both boys, raising several questions about how such a situation is handled by adults and why such a negative culture exists.
Charlie Polinger is the writer/director of the film and based it on his own experiences at the same age. What he captures is the need boys seem to have to be included, to not stand apart, and to follow whatever the normative “rules” are. All of them are in their own ways awkward but how they survive and excel has more to do with how they conform to each other. Ben is an interesting character because he does see both perspectives. He is taunted for his unique accent in which he doesn’t pronounce his “T’s.” Not surprisingly, he’s given a nickname which corresponds to the impediment. He attempts to fight the teasing for as long as he can. He wants to be part of the “in” crowd but also wants to understand Eli. The film is basically told through his perspective. He’s also given the most depth as a character: He’s a vegetarian, he takes risks, he stands up for himself and tries to see through the ridiculousness of boys pushing their plague ideas. Young actor Everett Blunck does a masterful job of letting subtle glances demonstrate Ben’s growing concerns about what he sees around him. Eventually things turn sour for Ben as he begins to butt heads with “lead” bully Jake.
Joel Edgerton, who also serves as a producer of the film, plays the swimming coach. He attempts to straighten the problems out through lectures but ultimately his presence is lacking during the more intense moments of bullying. When one of the boys calls home to be picked up, he is instead forced to remain under the coach’s less than ideal supervision. Part of what the film is exploring is the lack of attention adults give to the difficult culture within groups of adolescent boys. Of course, they are still boys and even Ben has his own doubts at times which threatens any sense of self-assuredness he does have. It’s easy to convince oneself that maybe the others are right without some solid social or parental guidance.
For a first-time film, Polinger does a pretty remarkable job of making this a visually and emotionally exciting work of art. He uses several inventive camera movements and perspectives to capture activity in the pool. In fact, the underwater shots are equally beautiful and menacing. He even attempts a bit of Busby Berkeley choreography when a group of girls at the camp are engaged in their own forms of water ballet. The group is shot from above almost recreating Busby’s classic movie pool scenes. On the sound side, Polinger’s use of what appears to be a manipulated choir for music is equally effective at creating a haunting and disturbing atmosphere.
Near the end, there is a scene that echoes the terror that was present in Brian DePalma’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie. The school dance setting and the way one of the characters walks suggests the possible evil that could be simmering under the pain of bullying (something the character of Carrie, played by Sissy Spacek, knew all about.) While the film abounds with associated dangers such as self-harm and intense cruelty, it is also cautioning viewers to be more aware of the negative behavior that exists within groups of adolescents. Being silent might be a way for them to try to fit in but it can also do more deep psychological harm in the long run. The answer may be for young people to always strive to be themselves, although even that could lead to other risks. The lesson is clear though: teachers, parents, and responsible kids should make themselves more aware of the bullying around them. Destructive and dangerous outcomes could result without someone speaking up.
The Plague is now playing in limited release, including the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.