The Plague: Review. By Nick Boyd.
“The Plague” is a deeply unsettling movie about bullying and social acceptance that takes place at a boys’ water polo camp. The boys are around 12 years of age and display cruel treatment towards a quirky outsider named Eli (Kenny Rasmussen) with a skin condition which they deem is “The Plague” – contagious and worthy of ridicule. When a newcomer named Ben (Everett Blunck) arrives, he tries to show some compassion toward Eli, while also having some difficulty of his own fitting into his new social hierarchy. Should he risk showing kindness towards Eli and becoming an outsider himself? Ben also worries that “The Plague” might actually be real, adding to his turmoil.
The group of boys is led by Jake (Kayo Martin), who exudes both a high-degree of confidence and also a cruel streak, looking for any weaknesses to prey upon. At the camp, a pecking order is clearly established.
Anyone who has taken part in a move from one city to another (many miles away) as an adolescent is sure to identify with the plight of Ben. He is in a difficult position in that while he wants to be a part of the group (eating meals with the others), he also does not seem to condone their unrelentingly cruel behavior toward Eli. Throughout the film, we can see Ben’s increasing anxiety and fear as the cruelty towards Eli intensifies.
The coach, played by Joel Edgerton, is well-meaning and does what he can to establish control and offer guidance; however, it is also clear that he struggles to act as a role model to rein in the bullying, showing how difficult it can be for adults to supervise adolescents in such a malicious environment.
Martin’s performance is all the more realistic in that it is not dependent on being over-the-top. The bullying is more psychological in nature, making it all the more insidious. Blunck, meanwhile, gives a standout performance, with vulnerabilities and insecurities that will resonate with both adolescents and adults alike. Rasmussen gives a haunting portrayal as someone who seems somewhat content with his outsider status, yet the hurt and loneliness is palpable. Edgerton is effective in a small role as the coach.
The tone of the film is a psychological thriller in its editing and sound choices, maintaining suspense and tension throughout. On that note, I thought the musical score and sound design were overbearing and the ending was too abrupt.
Nonetheless, the acting and writing in “The Plague” feel very authentic, and the film quite effectively depicts the struggles and social relationships of adolescents finding their way in an often cruel world where the choice between fitting in and being compassionate are often at odds.
