The Plague Parent Guide

Having just moved to a new city, 12-year-old, socially awkward Ben (Everett Blunck) attends a boys’ water polo summer camp. Upon arrival, he quickly realizes there is a rigid social hierarchy, with a boy named Jake (Kayo Martin) firmly at the top. Wanting to fit in, Ben goes along with Jake and the other boys in ostracizing Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a camper said to have “the plague.” Jake explains that the plague is contagious through touch: it begins as a rash and eventually turns your brain to baby food. He also recounts that during a previous camp session, a boy was infected, sent home, and ultimately committed to a mental institution. 

Throughout the film, Ben grapples with the conflict between his conscience and his desire to belong. When he ultimately decides he no longer wants to participate in the bullying, Ben befriends Eli, effectively ostracizing himself and leading the other boys to believe he, too, has contracted “the plague.”

I must warn you that this review contains mild spoilers, which are necessary to describe its content issues.

Scored and filmed like a horror movie, <em>The Plague</em> is a brilliant depiction of the existential dread that so often accompanies male adolescence. It uniquely captures the social games and bullying dynamics that frequently exist within teenage boys’ social groups. While classified as a horror/drama, <em>The Plague</em> contains no supernatural elements; instead, it relies on psychological turmoil and deeply unsettling imagery. The film uses metaphor and symbolism to convey the true terror of the male adolescent social experience, cleverly addressing a wide range of scenarios that are inherent to rigid social hierarchies.

<em>The Plague</em> follows a clear narrative structure but remains abstract in its presentation and meaning. This is not a film for viewers who simply want passive entertainment without reflection. While it is engaging, entertainment does not appear to be its primary goal.

The film does not shy away from the ugly and uncomfortable realities of male adolescence. Due to its subject matter, it contains content that is not suitable for children, particularly graphic gore and explicit discussions of sexual content, all presented in a deliberately vulgar and confrontational manner.

For true film lovers, <em>The Plague</em> is an excellent choice if you want to feel slightly disturbed, slightly sad, and slightly confused, at least until it ends and you analyze it and geek out about it (which was my experience while writing this). This isn’t a popcorn flick, but it will provide food for thought.

About author

Alisha Bagshaw

Alisha Bagshaw is completing her BCST in Child and Youth Care Counselling and is working toward a career in psychology and policy advocacy. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and subjecting her husband and friends to in-depth (and usually unsolicited) synopses and thematic analysis.