The Plague (2025) is a tense psychological drama‑thriller directed by Charlie Polinger. The story follows 12‑year-old Ben, a socially anxious boy at an all‑boys water polo camp, who becomes entangled in a cruel ritual when he befriends Eli a loner shunned for an acne outbreak they call “the plague.”
As teasing escalates into real torment, Ben must face his own role in the suffering. Starring Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, and produced by Joel Edgerton, the film explores peer pressure, masculinity and the hidden horrors of adolescence.
Basic Details:
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Title: The Plague
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Director / Writer: Charlie Polinger
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Producers: Lizzie Shapiro, Lucy McKendrick, Joel Edgerton, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Derek Dauchy
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Cast: Everett Blunck (Ben), Kayo Martin (Jake), Kenny Rasmussen (Eli), Joel Edgerton (Daddy Wags)
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Music: Johan Lenox
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Cinematography: Steven Breckon
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Editing: Simon Njoo, Henry Hayes
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Production Companies: Spooky Pictures, The Space Program, Doublethink, Five Henrys, Image Nation Abu Dhabi
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Distributor: Independent Film Company
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Runtime: 95 minutes
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Country: United States, Romania
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Language: English
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Release Date: Premiered at Cannes (May 16, 2025); limited U.S. theatrical release December 24, 2025, wide from January 2, 2026
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Rating: R
