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Entertainment·The Guardian — Culture

The Plague review – water polo camp turns into tween hellscape with impressive stylistic bite

Friday, April 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM · By Phil Hoad

With Fincher-like intent, director Charlie Polinger scopes out concealed psychological depths in a debut that sees the laws of the jungle play out Set at a boy’s water polo training camp in the summer of 2003, Charlie Polinger’s debut feature plunges beneath the waterline to scope out concealed psychological depths. It may not be news that these kids operate in a brutal, animal-like hierarchy driven by braggadocio, bullying, hazing and gaslighting – but from the stunning initial submerged shot…