The Plague isn't a new Lord of the Flies. It's more terrifying

Charlie Polinger’s debut feature, The Plague, is a horror‑flecked drama set at a 2003 water‑polo camp in Canada. The film follows Ben, played by newcomer Everett Blunck, as he navigates a toxic social hierarchy dominated by Jake, a 12‑year‑old bully portrayed by Kayo Martin. Counselor Joel Edgerton appears as “Daddy Wags,” a figure who tries to keep order. The story escalates when a mysterious skin condition—referred to as “the plague”—spreads among the campers, turning them into violent, isolated figures. Polinger blends improvised dialogue with stark cinematography and a tense score by Johan Lenox, creating a chilling portrait of adolescent cruelty that echoes classic works like Lord of the Flies and the Robbers Cave experiment.