The Plague (2025 film)

Last updated

The Plague
The Plague film poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed byCharlie Polinger
Written byCharlie Polinger
Produced by
Starring
  • Everett Blunck
  • Kayo Martin
  • Kenny Rasmussen
  • Joel Edgerton
CinematographySteven Breckon
Edited by
  • Simon Njoo
  • Henry Hayes
Music by Johan Lenox
Production
companies
Distributed by Independent Film Company
Release dates
  • May 16, 2025 (2025-05-16)(Cannes)
  • December 24, 2025 (2025-12-24)(United States)
Running time
95 minutes [1]
Countries
  • United States
  • Romania
LanguageEnglish

The Plague is a 2025 psychological drama-thriller film [2] [3] [4] written and directed by Charlie Polinger in his directorial debut. It stars Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, and Joel Edgerton, who is also a producer on the film.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, and is scheduled to be given a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 24, 2025, expanding nationwide on January 2, 2026.

Premise

A socially anxious 12-year-old boy is pulled into a cruel tradition at an all-boys water polo camp. [5]

Cast

Production

Cast and crew of the film at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 The Plague (2025 film)-69088.jpg
Cast and crew of the film at the Cannes Film Festival 2025

Initially, when Joel Edgerton received the script by Charlie Polinger, he wanted to direct the film; however, Polinger wanted to, with Edgerton instead offering to help get it made. [7] Polinger set out to "capture a social dread and vulnerability of your body and something you don't see as much with boys because it requires a certain vulnerability to be an object of terror in that way", and cites The Shining , Full Metal Jacket , and Beau Travail as primary sources of inspiration. [8]

The film was shot on 35 mm film in Bucharest, Romania. [9] [10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, in the Un Certain Regard section. [11] In August 2025, Independent Film Company acquired North American distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a theatrical release in the United States on December 24, 2025, before expanding nationwide on January 2, 2026. [12]

In addition to Cannes, the film played at the Deauville American Film Festival, [13] Fantastic Fest, [14] Sitges Film Festival, [15] Chicago International Film Festival, [16] AFI Fest, [17] SCAD Savannah Film Festival, [18] Miami Film Festival, [19] St. Louis International Film Festival, [20] and many others.

Reception

Critical response

The film was met with critical acclaim [21] and a warm reception at Cannes. [21] It received an eleven minute standing ovation. It was highlighted as a favorite by pop star Charli XCX [22] and was described as "perhaps the hottest American film at the festival". [23]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 18 critics' reviews are positive. [24]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Cannes Film Festival May 24, 2025 Un Certain Regard Award Charlie PolingerNominated [25]
Camera d'Or Nominated
Best Sound Creation AwardThe PlagueWon [26]
Deauville American Film Festival September 13, 2025Grand PrizeWon [27]
Critics PrizeWon
Fantastic Fest September 23, 2025Best Picture (Main Competition)Won [28]
Calgary International Film Festival September 23, 2025Grand Jury PrizeWon [29]
Orcas Island Film FestivalOctober 1, 2025Jean-Marc Vallée Vanguard AwardCharlie PolingerWon [30]
Denver Film Festival October 16, 2025Breakthrough Director PrizeWon [31]
Sitges Film Festival October 18, 2025 Best Feature FilmThe PlagueNominated [32]
Best ActorEverett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, Joel Edgerton, Lucas Adler, Caden Burris, Lennox Espy, Elliott Heffernan, Kolton LeeWon
Woodstock Film Festival October 18, 2025Best Feature, NarrativeThe PlagueWon [33]
Best CinematographySteven BreckonNominated
Best Editing, NarrativeSimon NjooWon

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Plague". Cannes Film Festival . May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ "'The Plague' Review: Joel Edgerton & Cast of Young Newcomers Turn Summer Boys Camp into a Psychological Nightmare – Cannes Film Festival". May 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Independent Company Buys Joel Edgerton Psychological Thriller (EXCLUSIVE)".
  4. ↑ "'The Plague' Review: Joel Edgerton in a Thrilling Drama That Captures the Terror of Adolescent Masculinity". The Hollywood Reporter . May 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (April 22, 2025). "Charlie Polinger's 'The Plague,' Starring Joel Edgerton, Boarded by AGC, Cinetic and UTA Independent Film Group Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32792934/
  7. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (May 15, 2025). "Cannes Premiere 'The Plague' Twists the Pock-Marked Perils of Adolescence Into Body Horror — with Joel Edgerton". IndieWire . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (May 15, 2025). "Cannes Premiere 'The Plague' Twists the Pock-Marked Perils of Adolescence Into Body Horror — with Joel Edgerton". IndieWire. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ Afcinema (October 17, 2025). "Interview with Steven Breckon about "The Plague", by Charlie Polinger". Afcinema. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ Lang, Brent (May 17, 2025). "Meet The Space Program, the Producing Collective Behind Buzzy Cannes Film 'The Plague': 'For Indie Movies, It's Not One Size Fits All'". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ Ntim, Zac (April 10, 2025). "Cannes Competition: Aster, Trier, Dardennes, Reichardt, Ducournau & Wes Anderson Among Lineup — Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  12. ↑ Lang, Brent (August 7, 2025). "Independent Film Company Buys Joel Edgerton Psychological Thriller 'The Plague'". Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ https://variety.com/2025/film/global/deauville-festival-2025-winners-1236517543/
  14. ↑ https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/fantastic-fest-2025-awards-1235152531/
  15. ↑ https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/films/2025
  16. ↑ https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/event/theplague/
  17. ↑ https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/afi-fest-2025-full-lineup-best-movies-1235153613/
  18. ↑ https://filmfest.scad.edu/schedule/plague
  19. ↑ https://miamifilmfestival.com/program/event/the-plague/
  20. ↑ https://festivals.cinemastlouis.org/sliff2025/movies/the-plague/
  21. 1 2 "The Plague (2025) | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  22. ↑ Gardner, Chris (May 16, 2025). "Charli XCX Extends Brat Summer in Cannes With Magnum Party and Palais Premiere of 'The Plague'". The Hollywood Reporter .
  23. ↑ "The buzziest films at Cannes so far — and one already causing arguments". The Washington Post. May 18, 2025. Archived from the original on May 19, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  24. ↑ "The Plague". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ "The films of the Official Selection 2025". Festival de Cannes. April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  26. ↑ Porter, Kimberly (June 2, 2025). "'The Plague' by Charlie Polinger Triumphs at Cannes: Best Sound Creation Award 2025". culturedfocusmag. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  27. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (September 13, 2025). "Deauville Festival 2025 Winners: Joel Edgerton Thriller 'The Plague,' Plan B-Produced 'Olmo' and Kristen Stewart's 'Chronology of Water' Take Top Awards". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (September 23, 2025). "Fantastic Fest 2025 Awards: 'The Plague,' 'CAMP,' and 'The Vile' Win Top Prizes". IndieWire. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  29. ↑ Toombs, Aryn (September 24, 2025). "Calgary International Film Festival awards winning films with jury prizes". LiveWire Calgary. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Orcas Island Film Festival unveils 2025 lineup: 41 films from 35 countries, 12 Oscar submissions and Global Festival winners". Islands' Sounder. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  31. ↑ Gardner, Chris (October 16, 2025). "Denver Film Fest to Honor Zoey Deutch, Ben Foster and Screen Robert Redford and Diane Keaton Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  32. ↑ "'La hermanastra fea' d'Emilie Blichfeldt, Premi a la Millor Pel·lícula a Sitges 2025 | Sitges Film Festival". sitgesfilmfestival.com (in Catalan). Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Woodstock Film Festival celebrates activism, movies at Maverick Awards Ceremony". Daily Freeman. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
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