The Plague

by Mike McGranaghan

Children can be unspeakably cruel to each other when they want to. Few movies have dealt with that disturbing fact as unflinchingly as The Plague. The kids are definitely not alright in Charlie Polinger’s debut feature, which takes place at a water polo camp for boys aged 12 and 13. What happens at that camp speaks to themes of ostracism, conformity, and the pressure on tweens to make themselves fit into a structure that might be unhealthy for them.

Ben (Griffin in Summer’s Everett Blunck) is the new kid at camp. He immediately recognizes that Jake (Kayo Martin) serves as the de facto leader, setting the pace for what the other boys do and how they behave. Under his direction, everyone collectively avoids Eli (Kenny Rasmussen) because he has a mysterious skin condition they call “the plague.” If Eli touches one of the others, they literally run for the showers to wash off perceived contaminants.

Ben gets to know Eli, coming to the eventual conclusion that there’s nothing actually wrong with him. But then Jake and the others determine that Ben contracted the plague from his friend. That’s when things turn really ugly, despite the best efforts of the coach (Joel Edgerton) to maintain control.

The Plague revolves around the question of whether Eli actually does have a communicable disease or is simply being singled out for ridicule because he’s different. That puts Ben in a position where he has two choices. One is to get in lockstep with Jake and the rest of the boys; the other is to risk his own ostracization from the group. The film depicts the back-and-forth pull he experiences. During the moments where we’re made to wonder if the plague is real, there’s added suspense from recognizing Ben is making himself susceptible to it.

There’s a lot of water in this film. Many scenes are set in or around the pool. The showers are another frequent setting. As such, the boys are often wearing only their swimsuits, which underlines the vulnerability of the characters. Water is traditionally viewed as cleansing. Here, it’s somewhat of a threat, fueling plague conspiracies and providing opportunities for bullying. For the viewer, the cumulative effect generates great discomfort. This is the kind of picture where you get a knot in your stomach early on, knowing that an unpleasant resolution is coming somewhere down the line.

To make a story like this work, it’s essential to have child actors who can convey complex emotions. Blunck is utterly convincing as he takes Ben through a range of contrasting mindsets. Ben’s soul is almost literally on the line, and the young star takes his character to dark, disturbing places when needed. Kayo Martin is equally credible as the chief bully, as is Rasmussen as the oddball Eli. The ensemble cast allows the story to have an authentic feel.

The Plague is commendable for its insightful look at childhood cruelty, as well as for its refusal to offer easy, comforting answers. The film is, very intentionally, hard to watch. You need to be prepared for that going in. Polinger does not coddle the audience in any way. It isn’t a fun time at the movies, but if you’re up to the task of confronting a serious issue, the plot’s final destination will leave you rattled.

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