The Plague (2025) - Summer Camp (Slasher) 3
Summary
We continue their camp horror series with Charlie Polinger’s 2025 film The Plague, set at a 2003 summer water polo camp where the central terror is not a slasher but toxic masculinity, bullying, and an ambiguous “plague” used to create in-groups and out-groups.
We discuss how the plague functions as scapegoating and surveillance, how Ben (a new kid with a speech impediment) and eccentric Eli become targets, and how Jake’s bully leadership reflects power dynamics and absent/ineffective adults, including counselor “Daddy Wags” (Joel Edgerton).
We discuss the film’s dread-filled underwater cinematography, minimalist score, and ending centered on Ben’s blood-soaked, frenetic dance, and they connect the film to broader plague narratives. Plus so much joy
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