The Plague
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The Plague
Charlie Polinger's 2025 psychological thriller, "The Plague," delves into the dark realities of adolescent bullying and social anxiety at an all-boys water polo camp. The film centers on 12-year-old Ben, who struggles to fit in and grapples with the cruel social hierarchy orchestrated by the dominant boy, Jake. As Ben initially participates in the ostracization of an outcast named Eli, he eventually faces similar torment when he is also labeled with "the plague." The narrative explores themes of conformity, peer pressure, and the psychological impact of cruelty, utilizing a horror film aesthetic to amplify the tension and discomfort of the coming-of-age experience. Rated R, the movie is intended for mature audiences due to its intense themes, strong language, sexual content, and depiction of self-harm and substance use among young characters.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film contains significant psychological torment and instances of physical violence, primarily related to intense bullying among adolescent boys. The violence is often disturbing due to its realistic portrayal of child-on-child cruelty.
The MPAA rating includes 'selfharm/bloody images'. One intense scene involves Jake and his friends pouring cockroaches onto Ben's bed while he sleeps, then trapping him under a blanket as he screams. Another instance of violence occurs when Ben, during a water polo practice, aggressively scratches Jake, drawing blood.
Romance and Sexual Content
The film features explicit discussions of sexual content and vulgar boasts among 12- and 13-year-old boys, presented in a confrontational manner. While graphic nudity or explicit sexual acts are not reported, the dialogue and themes are highly suggestive and inappropriate for younger audiences.
Profanity
The movie includes frequent and strong profanity, with explicit expletives and terms of deity. The language used by the young characters is notably harsh and pervasive, contributing to the film's R rating.
Scary & Intense Content
The film is described as a 'harrowing psychological thriller' that generates visceral fear through its intense depiction of bullying, social anxiety, and psychological torment. It is considered a horror film, not due to supernatural elements, but because of its raw and disturbing exploration of adolescent cruelty.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Disrespect and rebellion are central themes, manifested through severe and unrelenting bullying among the boys. Characters exhibit defiance of social norms and implicit authority figures through their cruel actions and the creation of a rigid, oppressive social hierarchy.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for viewers under 17 due to its R rating for language, sexual material, self-harm/bloody images, and drug and alcohol use, all involving children. Parental guidance is strongly advised for mature teenagers.
Good to Know
This film is a psychological thriller that uses the metaphor of 'the plague' to explore intense bullying and social anxiety among adolescent boys. Its R rating is well-justified by the content, which includes graphic discussions of sex, strong profanity, underage substance use, and emotionally disturbing violence. Parents should be aware that the film is designed to be unsettling and provoke reflection on the cruelty inherent in certain social dynamics, rather than providing escapist entertainment. There are no known sequels or adaptations at this time, so concerns do not evolve across installments.
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