Direction: Charlie Polinger
Country: USA
The Plague, a psychological horror drama centered on a youth water polo team, marks a convincing debut for writer-director Charlie Polinger, who received accolades in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Delving into a neurotic pre-adolescence steeped in anxiety, the film draws from the director’s personal diaries written during a summer camp in 2003.
As an astute—if at times dreary—examination of youth culture within a sports camp setting, the film confronts uncomfortable realities such as bullying and the challenges of integrating into a new group. It is also notably atmospheric, ambiguous, and faintly bizarre, with a darkness that probes into grim, rarely explored emotional corners.
Polinger avoids sensationalism, maintaining a restrained, low-key approach, while the ensemble cast delivers strong performances. Young actors Everett Blunck and Kayo Martin are particularly remarkable, and a composed Joel Edgerton also contributes both on screen and as a co-producer.
It’s a strange movie—one that may initially feel elusive in its appeal, yet gradually reveals its intrigue through lingering enigmas. A bolder ending might have elevated it further, but The Plague, carrying an unexpected emotional weight, emerges as a pleasant surprise.
