The visionary director of the critically acclaimed psychological drama-thriller The Plague in 2025, Charlie Polinger, masterfully drew from his own childhood experiences to craft this powerful coming-of-age story. For instance, in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he revealed how rummaging through his childhood closet profoundly influenced the film’s scary visuals and its poignant themes of teen bullying and anxiety.
Moreover, The Plague made waves with its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, where it earned nominations for the Un Certain Regard Award and the Caméra d’Or, while triumphantly winning Best Sound Creation. Adding to its prestige, Rotten Tomatoes grants the movie a perfect score. Notably, stars Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, and Joel Edgerton not only lead the cast but also produce the film. Therefore, audiences can catch it in select US theaters on December 24, 2025, before it expands nationwide on January 2, 2026.
At its core, the story follows a socially anxious 12-year-old boy thrust into a cruel bullying tradition at an all-boys water polo camp, where his mental health issues blur the lines between game and reality. Inspired by masterpieces like The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Beau Travail, Polinger aimed to vividly capture the “social dread and vulnerability” of boyhood. Furthermore, the movie was shot in Bucharest, Romania, on 35mm film, seamlessly blending teen thriller and psychological horror elements.
Everett Blunck portrays Ben, Kayo Martin plays Jake, Kenny Rasmussen embodies Eli, and Joel Edgerton shines as Daddy Wags. Initially, Edgerton considered directing but instead championed Polinger’s debut, which was pivotal in getting the project greenlit. In addition, the ensemble clinched the Best Actor award at the Sitges Film Festival.
