This winter, the Independent Film Company (IFC) will release The Plague, a psychological thriller that received an 11-minute standing ovation at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The film marks the directorial debut of Charlie Polinger, who also wrote the script, according to Variety. It follows a socially awkward teenager as he endures brutal bullying during an all-boys water polo camp.
Actor Joel Edgerton stars in the film and also serves as a producer. The cast also includes newcomers Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, and Kenny Rasmussen. Critics at Cannes praised the film’s performances and direction. Some audience members described it as an unsettling portrayal of adolescence, a body horror thriller.
Edgerton is known for his roles in films like The Gift, The King, and The Great Gatsby. You can also catch him in the series “Dark Matter.”
The Plague premiered at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard selection and took home an award for best sound creation. It was produced by Spooky Pictures and Doublethink. It features a strong roster of executive producers, including Roy Lee and Steven Schneider.
IFC is the studio behind arthouse genre hits like Late Night With the Devil and The Babadook. Scott Shooman, the head of IFC, called The Plague “one of the most riveting debut films we’ve ever seen.”
