For every highly regarded Cannes film festival feature, there’s always the indie films that go unnoticed, and director Charlie Pollinger’s feature film debut ‘The Plague’ is a coming of age horror film that originally premiered at Cannes and then eventually got picked up by Independent film co. to be released in theaters. The film is written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Charlie Pollinger and stars young actors like Kayo Martin and Everett Blunck, and also stars veteran actor Joel Edgerton. The story of the movie follows a young tween (Ben) who goes to a boys summer camp for water polo and discovers a rumour circulating around that a Plague is spreading around between everyone, with other kids like Jake played by Kayo Martin, are already desperate to steer as far clear from the plague as possible.
The film despite the horror appeal it presents itself as, has more tints of coming of age than anything. It effectively uses both genres to its advantage, taking the classic plague disease trope to communicate how some teens are seen as a Plague needed to be steered clear of, just because they don’t necessarily fit in with the normal teen personalities in the group of boys. Whether the plague is truly real is left for mystery and interpretation majority of the film, but regardless, its used for an interesting metaphor of how teens get easily outcasted in a youth full of ruthless bullies and people waiting to call you a weirdo just for having slightly unconventional interests. The Plague is also technically sharp, with eerie sound design immersing you into the lurking terror around the building where the camp is held. Damian Volpe in the sound department with this film, has a sense of creating tension and anticipating something horrifying with attentive detail for sounds and the landscape of everything going on in the atmosphere. Johan Lenox’s score is also just as effectively creepy to create this slow burn world of horror, with a haunting background of music to go with the world built by Pollinger.
Above even technical aspects, the film also brings brilliant opportunities for these child actors to shine. Everett Blunck as Ben is stellar, as a teen wanting to get out his shell and fit into the group of the “cool kids” but also wanting to still be himself. His performance is a perfect example of the confusing and scared mind of a teen trying to figure out his identity. Kayo Martin is a rising star as well as the bully of Jake in the film, playing the charasmatic yet sinister and mean group leader of his friend group, setting the trend for followers who choose to bully as well. Out of all the good of the film, one valid critique of it would be that at times it works a bit better for the coming of age genre than horror at times. While the trope of plagues works well for the message Pollinger intended and builds some tension, it only lasts for a finite amount of time before the plot begins to unravel into the territory of predictability. Nonetheless, Pollinger’s directorial debut “The Plague”, highlighting the danger of bullying culture promoting making outcasts, is a promising one that shows potential for him as a future filmmaker Rating: 4/5 stars
