The Plague Cast 2025 – is a psychological drama-thriller movie. It is written and directed by Charlie Polinger, and this is his first film as a director. The movie stars Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, and Joel Edgerton. Joel Edgerton also worked as a producer on the film. The Plague had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025.
The movie will have a limited release in theaters in the United States on December 24, 2025, and will then expand to theaters nationwide on January 2, 2026.
The Plague Cast 2025
Charlie Polinger begins his first movie, The Plague, with a scene that feels both strange and scary. You hear the soft, muffled sound of water while the camera shows the bottom of a swimming pool. One by one, kids jump in, their thin legs moving clumsily as they try to swim together. It’s the summer of 2003, and these kids are at the Tom Lerner Water Polo camp. Filmed from below, Polinger and his cameraman Steven Breckon make the children look ghost‑like, setting the mood for a creepy story about growing up.
The Plague feels strange and dream‑like, and it first showed at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. Charlie Polinger, who also wrote the script, uses horror style tricks to show the fear and pressure that kids face in their social groups. Today, when people talk more about the “manosphere” and how boys are taught to act, the movie feels very timely. It isn’t as dark as Netflix’s show Adolescence, but it explores similar ideas — like how rules about masculinity are often random, and how boys can be punished if they don’t fit in.
The movie The Plague is powered by strong acting that makes up for moments when the directing feels a bit heavy. New actors Everett Blunck and Kayo Martin show two very different sides of teenage stress with honesty and intensity. Martin, with his sharp looks and quiet judgment, fits perfectly as Jake, the “cool kid” who uses his attention to detail to control others. He plays well against Blunck, who is Ben, the new camper trying to figure out where he belongs among the groups.
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The scary sound design by Damian Volpe and the tense music by Johan Lenox, along with cold visuals in gray and blue, all add to Charlie Polinger’s gripping story.When Ben (played by Everett Blunck) arrives at the water polo camp, he quickly sees how much control Jake (Kayo Martin) has over the other boys. With his messy blond hair and confident attitude, Jake acts like the leader, and once he accepts Ben, the newcomer is allowed into the group. Sunrise on the Reaping Cast 2026 – Amazing Story, Trailer & Release
Because Ben just moved from Boston, the boys tease him by calling him “Soppy,” since he mispronounces the “t” in the word “stop.” Director Charlie Polinger shows early on how Jake carefully watches the other boys, picking out small differences and using them to make fun of them. This sharp eye for detail helps Jake stay in charge, making him a scary figure to everyone — even the camp’s coach, Daddy Wags (Joel Edgerton), who appears briefly but memorably.
Ben notices that no one spends time with Eli (played by Kenny Rasmussen), the quiet boy who often eats and even sleeps in the locker room. The other kids say Eli has “the plague,” a strange sickness that starts with a rash and supposedly makes people unable to fit in socially. Jake warns Ben to stay away from Eli and to wash himself if he gets too close. Director Charlie Polinger never makes it clear if the plague is real, but the fear it creates feels very real.
The rest of The Plague shows Ben struggling between wanting to be accepted and wanting to do what’s right. He knows people shouldn’t be pushed aside for being different, but he also fears losing his place in the group. Everett Blunck captures Ben’s worry and inner conflict with great skill.
Polinger uses jump scares, close‑up shots of Jake and Ben staring at each other, and bits of body horror to turn these growing‑up struggles into frightening challenges. In one scene, the boys laugh and talk loudly at lunch, but the editing (by Henry Hayes and Simon Njoo) cuts between the group and individual faces. At first they look like kids having fun, but if you look closely, you can see hints of fear hiding under their smiles.
The Plague Cast & Crew List
| Name | Character / Role / Credit |
|---|---|
| Charlie Polinger | Director / Writer |
| Joel Edgerton | Everett Blunck |
| Everett Blunck | Ben |
| Kenny Rasmussen | Eli |
| Lennox Espy | Julian |
| Arianna Baraitaru | Special Cameo |
| Lucas Adler | Logan |
| Caden Burris | Matt |
| Elliott Heffernan | Tic Tac |
| Kolton Lee | Corbin |
| Kayo Martin | Jake |
| Gabi Antal | Executive Producer |
| Cullen Conly | Executive Producer |
| Derek Dauchy | Producer |
Above is the confirmed cast and crew list of The Plague 2025 Movie.
The Plague 2025 Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer of The Plague 2025 released by IFC Entertainment Group.
The Plague Release Date
The Plague first premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, in the Un Certain Regard section.
In August 2025, Independent Film Company bought the North American distribution rights for the film. The movie is set to release in U.S. theaters on December 24, 2025, with a wide release starting on January 2, 2026.
After Cannes, the film was shown at many other famous film festivals, including:
- Deauville American Film Festival
- Fantastic Fest
- Sitges Film Festival
- Chicago International Film Festival
- AFI Fest
- SCAD Savannah Film Festival
- Miami Film Festival
- St. Louis International Film Festival
And several more international festivals.
About: The Plague 2025
The Plague is a psychological drama‑thriller set in the summer of 2003 at a water polo camp. It follows Ben (Everett Blunck), a newcomer trying to fit in, and Jake (Kayo Martin), the controlling “cool kid” who leads the group. The boys ostracize Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), claiming he has “the plague.” The film explores fear, masculinity, peer pressure, and the cruelty of social hierarchies, blending psychological tension with horror‑style elements.
FAQs:The Plague 2025
Q: When did The Plague premiere?
Ans: The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard section) on May 16, 2025.
Q: When will The Plague release in theaters?
Ans:
Limited U.S. Release: December 24, 2025
Wide Release: January 2, 2026
Q: What film festivals has The Plague been screened at?
Ans: After Cannes, the film was showcased at:
- Deauville American Film Festival
- Fantastic Fest
- Sitges Film Festival
- Chicago International Film Festival
- AFI Fest
- SCAD Savannah Film Festival
- Miami Film Festival
St. Louis International Film Festival …and several more international festivals.
Q: Is The Plague Charlie Polinger’s debut film?
Ans: Yes. The Plague marks Charlie Polinger’s first feature as director and writer, premiering at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. His bold use of horror‑style techniques in a psychological drama has drawn attention to him as a promising new filmmaker.
Q: What is the central theme of The Plague?
Ans: The film explores toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and the cruelty of social hierarchies among boys. It uses psychological tension and horror elements to show how fear and exclusion shape childhood experiences.
Q: How does The Plague use horror techniques in a drama?
Ans: Polinger employs jump scares, body horror, eerie sound design, and unsettling close‑ups to heighten the psychological drama. These techniques make everyday childhood struggles feel terrifying and surreal.
