The Plague Review: Water Polo Camp Becomes a Stylish Tween Hellscape
Charlie Polinger’s debut feature, The Plague, is set in a boys' water polo training camp during the summer of 2003. The film explores the brutal, animal-like social hierarchy among pre-teen boys, characterized by bullying, hazing, and psychological manipulation. The narrative follows Ben, a latecomer desperate to fit in with the popular group led by the impish Jake. To avoid the pariah status of Eli, who is ostracized due to a fabricated disease called 'the plague,' Ben participates in the group's gaslighting tactics. Despite Coach Daddy Wags' advice to remain authentic, Ben succumbs to peer pressure. The review praises Polinger’s Fincher-like stylistic intent and visual sharpness, particularly in depicting the psychological depths of this tween jungle. While the first hour is highlighted for its raw energy and echoes of directors like Lucile Hadžihalilović and Larry Clark, the film is criticized for becoming predictable and overly derivative in its final act. Joel Edgerton delivers a reassuring performance as the coach, while the young cast provides unfiltered, raw portrayals of adolescent cruelty and vulnerability.
Wire timeline
The Plague Review: Water Polo Camp Becomes a Stylish Tween Hellscape
Charlie Polinger’s debut feature, The Plague, is set in a boys' water polo training camp during the summer of 2003. The film explores the brutal, animal-like social hierarchy among pre-teen boys, characterized by bullying, hazing, and psychological manipulation. The narrative follows Ben, a latecomer desperate to fit in with the popular group led by the impish Jake. To avoid the pariah status of Eli, who is ostracized due to a fabricated disease called 'the plague,' Ben participates in the group's gaslighting tactics. Despite Coach Daddy Wags' advice to remain authentic, Ben succumbs to peer pressure. The review praises Polinger’s Fincher-like stylistic intent and visual sharpness, particularly in depicting the psychological depths of this tween jungle. While the first hour is highlighted for its raw energy and echoes of directors like Lucile Hadžihalilović and Larry Clark, the film is criticized for becoming predictable and overly derivative in its final act. Joel Edgerton delivers a reassuring performance as the coach, while the young cast provides unfiltered, raw portrayals of adolescent cruelty and vulnerability.
The Guardian