The Plague

The Plague follows a socially awkward tween who finds the pecking order at a crowded water polo camp brutal and unrelenting. Away from family and familiar routines, Ben struggles to read the room, second guesses every comment, and clings to a fragile hope of belonging. As days stack up, the harsh dynamics of coaches, older campers, and rival athletes chip away at his sense of self, turning drills into tests of nerve and wit. Small moments of fear escalate into a creeping dread, and the line between competition and coercion becomes hard to judge. What begins as ordinary summer pressure quickly magnifies into a sustained psychological strain that unsettles both Ben and the people around him.

Directed by Charlie Polinger, The Plague features Everett Blunck as Ben, Kayo Martin as Jake, Joel Edgerton as Daddy Wags, Kenny Rasmussen as Eli, and Lucas Adler as Logan, presenting what appears to be an original screenplay rather than a studio adaptation. The project leans into intimate close ups and a restrained score that mirrors Ben's growing isolation, while the cinematography captures the chlorinated light and crowded bleachers with a constant sense of surveillance.

Early responses emphasize the film's taut atmosphere and its unflinching focus on anxiety and power within a youth sport setting. It asks how hierarchy can alter perception and push a person toward self-doubt, while offering stark portraits of friendship, resilience, and survival under pressure.

Box office data for The Plague has not yet been released and there are no worldwide totals available as the film expands to additional markets. Industry watchers will note its reception among genre audiences as it broadens release.

As of now there are no announced major nominations or wins for The Plague. Early reviews praise Blunck and the supporting cast for their intensity, and some critics applaud Polinger for sustaining dread via restraint and character focus, but formal accolades have yet to be disclosed.