Joel Edgerton Faces Fear and Obsession in Chilling Coming-of-Age Thriller ‘The Plague’

The new trailer for The Plague dives deep into the terrifying side of growing up, turning the pains of adolescence into something truly sinister.

The psychological coming-of-age thriller hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 24 before expanding nationwide on January 2 via Independent Film Company.

Set at an all-boys water polo camp, the film follows a socially anxious 12-year-old who becomes entangled in a cruel camp tradition that targets an outcast with a supposed illness called “The Plague.” But as the game spirals out of control, it becomes clear that the sickness might be more real—and more horrifying—than anyone imagined.

Joel Edgerton stars alongside newcomers Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, and Kenny Rasmussen.

Writer-director Charlie Polinger, making his feature debut, cites influences like Carrie, Raw, Black Swan, and Eighth Grade. “Those films explore the social terror of vulnerability and transformation,” Polinger explained. “But they usually focus on young women. With The Plague, I wanted to show that boys can experience horror through vulnerability too—something traditional masculinity rarely allows.”

Produced by Joel Edgerton, Steven Schneider (Insidious, Paranormal Activity), Roy Lee (IT, Weapons), Lizzie Shapiro (Shiva Baby), Lucy McKendrick, and Derek Dauchy (Late Night with the Devil), the film was shot entirely on 35mm, giving it a hauntingly tactile aesthetic.

The Plague premiered at Cannes earlier this year, where it earned an 11-minute standing ovation—a sign that this chilling blend of coming-of-age drama and psychological terror has struck a nerve.