The Plague
The brief
Charlie Polinger crafts an anxiety-soaked summer nightmare that feels like Eighth Grade meets Lord of the Flies in chlorinated water. Everett Blunck delivers a raw, uncomfortable performance as a kid whose social phobias manifest in increasingly disturbing ways, while the water polo setting becomes a pressure cooker of teenage cruelty. The film moves at a deliberate pace that mirrors its protagonist's mounting dread, building tension through awkward silences and predatory group dynamics. Perfect for anyone who found Bo Burnham's coming-of-age torture too gentle and wants something with sharper psychological teeth.
The verdict
If you have the stomach for psychologically brutal coming-of-age stories and appreciate slow-burn tension that makes you squirm in your seat, this is an exceptional piece of anxiety cinema with phenomenal critical acclaim. If you prefer faster-paced narratives or find intense social cruelty difficult to watch, you'll likely find this deliberate descent into teenage hell more punishing than rewarding.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for maximum psychological impact
- ⚠️ Skip if you have social anxiety triggers
Heads up
- Intense bullying and social cruelty (frequent)
- Panic attacks and anxiety spirals (moderate)
- Psychological torment of a minor (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Charlie Polinger
- Cast
- Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Joel Edgerton, Kenny Rasmussen, Lucas Adler, Caden Burris, Elliott Heffernan
Official synopsis
A socially awkward tween endures the ruthless hierarchy at a water polo camp, his anxiety spiraling into psychological
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Perfect Blue (1998)
Both explore psychological deterioration through intense social pressure and anxiety.
Total runtime: 1h 38m + 1h 22m = 3h 0m
