The Plague (dir. Charlie Pollinger)

By: Dave Hughes

During the 1970s, Stephen King famously explored the psychological landscapes of high school students. His work revealed that some of the most terrifying aspects of existence involve the cruelty that adolescents inflict upon one another, often targeting those they consider friends. This examination of youth dynamics traces back even further to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies in 1954. Both examples illustrate how teenagers navigate social structures and hierarchies in disturbing ways. Director Charlie Pollinger’s The Plague (2025) is the latest entry to explore these fractured social classes among the youth. Set within a high school water polo summer program, the film offers a chilling new perspective on the interactions and power dynamics inherent in coming of age.

The story unfolds during the summer of 2003 and focuses on a group of high school boys. These teenagers exhibit a familiar blend of social awkwardness and calculated cruelty. Joel Edgerton (The Stranger, It Comes at Night) portrays their coach, who struggles to maintain cohesion despite the volatile nature of teenage group dynamics. The conflict begins when the team targets a teammate named Eli (played by Kenny Rasmussen),who is maliciously nicknamed "The Plague" due to his severe acne. Ben, played by Everett Blunck, initially participates in the harassment. However, after a transformative encounter with the victim, the group shifts their aggression toward Ben. He becomes the new target of their collective scorn, forcing him to confront the true nature of his peers while questioning the legitimacy of the social contagion they have created.

The dynamics of the student body are what make The Plague such a powerful film. It transports the audience back to the profound uncertainty of the high school experience, where the desperate need for acceptance constantly battles the burgeoning drive for self-discovery. Ben sits at the center of this volatile dynamic. He longs for social capital within the group but also maintains an internal moral compass that urges him to do what is right. Faced with intense peer pressure to participate in the dehumanizing bullying of Eli, Ben instead experiences a growing sense of empathy. Through this conflict, Pollinger teaches that the "plague" is not a literal disease but a metaphor for the toxic social contagion of a mob mentality which is a powerful statement. The director suggests that the ultimate survival in such an environment is not found in fitting in, but in the painful, bloody process of reclaiming one's individual identity regardless of the social cost. By refusing to blindly follow the crowd, Ben becomes a relatable anchor for the audience in a narrative defined by moral decay during a time of self discovery and growth. It also provides audiences with an opportunity to reflect about their own time in high school as well as if they experienced this level of cruelty. 

Target Score 7/10: The Plague is a film that captures the audience and forces reflection upon a period of life many people glorify. Through the powerful portrayal of Ben, director Charlie Polinger delivers an unexpected and potent commentary on the lasting scars of adolescent cruelty.