The Plague (2025)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A socially anxious boy at a water polo camp must navigate a ruthless social hierarchy and a mysterious skin condition.
The story
In 2003, a socially anxious twelve-year-old boy named Ben arrives at the Tom Lerner Water Polo Camp. To fit into the camp's ruthless social hierarchy, he aligns himself with a group of popular boys led by Jake. Among the group is Eli, an eccentric misfit with a mysterious skin disorder that the other boys call 'the plague.' As Ben navigates the complexities of peer pressure and the growing tension between the boys, he finds himself increasingly conflicted about his treatment of Eli and the consequences of seeking acceptance in a hostile environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2003, Ben, a socially anxious boy, attends a water polo camp where he tries to gain acceptance by befriending the popular Jake. Ben joins in the bullying of Eli, a misfit with a mysterious skin condition known as 'the plague.' After a moment of private connection, Ben offers Eli medicine, but Jake starts a rumor that Ben has contracted the disease. When Ben discovers he also has the condition, he is ostracized and tormented by the other boys. After a series of escalating conflicts, including a physical altercation that leads to Ben's expulsion, the story culminates at a co-ed dance. After a confrontation with Eli leads to the latter being hospitalized, a distraught Ben joins the dance, performing in a wild, uninhibited manner that mirrors Eli's earlier behavior.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Charlie Polinger
- Writers
- Charlie Polinger · writer
- Cast and characters
- Everett Blunck · Ben; Kayo Martin · Jake; Kenny Rasmussen · Eli; Joel Edgerton · Daddy Wags; Lennox Espy · Julian; Lucas Adler · Logan; Elliott Heffernan · Tic Tac; Caden Burris · Matt; Kolton Lee · Corbin
- Genres
- thriller; psychological thriller
- Themes
- bullying; social anxiety; vulnerability
- Setting
- A water polo summer camp in 2003.
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; medical mystery
- Content notes
- bullying
- Reception
- The film was met with critical acclaim and a warm reception at Cannes, notably receiving a record-breaking standing ovation for a debut director.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 79 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Production trivia
- The film received the longest standing ovation for a debut director in the history of the Un Certain Regard section.; The film was shot on 35 mm film in Bucharest, Romania.; Joel Edgerton originally wanted to direct the film but agreed to produce instead.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…