IMDb reviews From IMDb
★ 8 / 10
Bullying and calculated ostracism have been around seemingly
Brent Marchant
Bullying and calculated ostracism have been around seemingly forever, but, in recent years, such antisocial behavior has increasingly been receiving the…
Bullying and calculated ostracism have been around seemingly forever, but, in recent years, such antisocial behavior has increasingly been receiving the disparaging attention it truly deserves. Interestingly, the latest voice added to that welcome chorus of criticism comes from a somewhat unlikely source, the excellent and insightful debut feature film from writer-director Charlie Polinger. Set in a summertime water polo camp for tweeners, the picture follows the exploits of a group of impressionable adolescents who learn valuable life lessons on the dangers of the aforementioned toxic behavior and attitudes. At the center of this psychological thriller is idealistic, socially awkward Ben (skillfully portrayed by rising talent and Critics Choice Award nominee Everett Blunck), who struggles to fit in but, because of his profound sense of compassion and consideration, is often out of step with his more rambunctious (and frequently unkind) peers. He’s confused by the scorn they inflict on others, most notably an unconventional nonconformist named Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who’s frequently marginalized for his unique views and decisively singular outlook on life. Eli’s circumstances are made worse by the development of a severe skin rash that the bullies (led by alpha male Jake (Kayo Martin)) openly and cruelly refer to as “the plague,” a condition that leads to his orchestrated ostracism. Ben is confused by this persistent ridicule and makes an effort to get to know his victimized colleague. But, in getting close to Eli, Ben also develops the same skin rash, causing him to be subjected to the kind of derision and mocking thrust upon Eli. Ben desperately tries to understand this uncalled-for treatment, frequently consulting his coach (Joel Edgerton), but he’s often on his own to try and sort out this relentless disparagement. Life at what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience quickly becomes a living hell. What makes this story work so effectively is the filmmaker’s skillful handling of the material, treating it almost as if it were constructed like a smart horror film – in many ways more chilling than a picture that needs to resort to gratuitous gore and excessive sensationalism to generate viewer gasps and frights (in this case, particularly at times when it appears the plague might actually be real and not just the menacing psychological fabrication of a bunch of teenage boys). This approach is significantly enhanced by the picture’s atmospheric score and inventive cinematography, adding a scary undercurrent to an otherwise coming of age drama. Admittedly, there are times early on when the script could stand to be a little more sharply focused, but then that could also be chalked up to a reflection of the overwhelming confusion Ben experiences as he seeks to assimilate into this new, and sometimes-disturbing, environment. Some might also legitimately view this tale as somewhat clichéd at times, but the picture’s message truly can’t be overemphasized enough, especially for anyone who has ever been in on the receiving end of such reprehensible treatment. As this Cannes Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award nominee illustrates, there’s no place in this world for this kind of behavior – no matter what environment is involved – and the film drives home that point with clarity, purpose and a mission to prevent it from continuing to plague us all.
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★ 7 / 10
Calculated ostracism is a plague
This is a pretty masterful film in general, but particularly so for those who've been bullied or ostracized by others. It's a film for those who try to fit in…
This is a pretty masterful film in general, but particularly so for those who've been bullied or ostracized by others. It's a film for those who try to fit in but, due to no fault of their own, cannot. It's a film for involuntary outcasts and those who can't relate to others and those who look back on their adolescent years with discomfort rather than the (socially acceptable) nostalgia. This is a film for the underdogs.The film follows a tween boy at a water polo camp who soon finds himself the victim of a cruel tradition. The tradition is the rumor that he has a plague, an infectious disease that is contagious if the subject is not shunned. This functions as an allegory for isolation and exclusion.Blunck is great and convincing here as the shy, gangly, gawky tween who has to keep all of his hurt in. He's alternatingly charming and sympathetic and then heartbreaking and moving in his performance. He has a deerlike quality in physicality in this film, at times looking like a deer in headlights at the horror of the bullying he experiences. He reminded me of myself when I was once an isolated tween lost in the world and trying to fit in. I can go on and on, but the portrayal was just really relatable. Edgerton is charming here as the coach. Rasmussen is disquieting and likeable here as an unpopular boy, while Martin is funny and intimidating as the popular boy.The film does a good job of making it ambiguous as to if the titular contagion is real or not. The cinematography throughout looks nice while also feeling disquieting, the score is haunting, and the dialogue between the boys felt really organic, which was refreshing. The film also touches on themes of dominance, masculinity, elitism, and cycles of bullying and how after one victim there often comes another; someone always has to be made out to be the weakest link or the scapegoat, and this film really effectively captures that sentiment and the insidiousness of it all. Angst, malaise, and foreboding ooze out of every shot in this film.What keeps this from being a perfect film is that the pacing can sometimes feel off; sometimes it moves along swiftly, and then other times it moves rather slowly to the point of being a tad dull. Further, it felt like it could have gone further and given more. The humor sometimes takes away from the overall seriousness of the film. It is unsettling and strange, sure, but it could have been far more graphic and violent. It felt like the film was restrained from firing on all cylinders.But overall, this is a really good film. Great performances and the slowly-ratcheting dread make this worth checking out. Highly recommended.
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★ 8 / 10
A Powerful Message in an Unlikely Medium
brentsbulletinboard
Bullying and calculated ostracism have been around seemingly forever, but, in recent years, such antisocial behavior has increasingly been receiving the…
Bullying and calculated ostracism have been around seemingly forever, but, in recent years, such antisocial behavior has increasingly been receiving the disparaging attention it truly deserves. Interestingly, the latest voice added to that welcome chorus of criticism comes from a somewhat unlikely source, the excellent and insightful debut feature film from writer-director Charlie Polinger. Set in a summertime water polo camp for tweeners, the picture follows the exploits of a group of impressionable adolescents who learn valuable life lessons on the dangers of the aforementioned toxic behavior and attitudes. At the center of this psychological thriller is idealistic, socially awkward Ben (skillfully portrayed by rising talent and Critics Choice Award nominee Everett Blunck), who struggles to fit in but, because of his profound sense of compassion and consideration, is often out of step with his more rambunctious (and frequently unkind) peers. He's confused by the scorn they inflict on others, most notably an unconventional nonconformist named Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who's frequently marginalized for his unique views and decisively singular outlook on life. Eli's circumstances are made worse by the development of a severe skin rash that the bullies (led by alpha male Jake (Kayo Martin)) openly and cruelly refer to as "the plague," a condition that leads to his orchestrated ostracism. Ben is confused by this persistent ridicule and makes an effort to get to know his victimized colleague. But, in getting close to Eli, Ben also develops the same skin rash, causing him to be subjected to the kind of derision and mocking thrust upon Eli. Ben desperately tries to understand this uncalled-for treatment, frequently consulting his coach (Joel Edgerton), but he's often on his own to try and sort out this relentless disparagement. Life at what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience quickly becomes a living hell. What makes this story work so effectively is the filmmaker's skillful handling of the material, treating it almost as if it were constructed like a smart horror film - in many ways more chilling than a picture that needs to resort to gratuitous gore and excessive sensationalism to generate viewer gasps and frights (in this case, particularly at times when it appears the plague might actually be real and not just the menacing psychological fabrication of a bunch of teenage boys). This approach is significantly enhanced by the picture's atmospheric score and inventive cinematography, adding a scary undercurrent to an otherwise coming of age drama. Admittedly, there are times early on when the script could stand to be a little more sharply focused, but then that could also be chalked up to a reflection of the overwhelming confusion Ben experiences as he seeks to assimilate into this new, and sometimes-disturbing, environment. Some might also legitimately view this tale as somewhat clichéd at times, but the picture's message truly can't be overemphasized enough, especially for anyone who has ever been in on the receiving end of such reprehensible treatment. As this Cannes Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award nominee illustrates, there's no place in this world for this kind of behavior - no matter what environment is involved - and the film drives home that point with clarity, purpose and a mission to prevent it from continuing to plague us all.
Read full review
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The 2160 version is out of sync by a good second or so. Avoid.