Why ‘The Plague’ Movie Is Hitting a Nerve With Parents
As buzz builds around The Plague (a movie that’s scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on December 24, so Merry Christmas to us!), Redditors are already weighing in. Early reactions to the movie directed by Charlie Polinger, and starring Joel Edgerton, Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, and Kenny Rasmussen suggest this isn’t your typical coming-of-age movie. From Cannes chatter to trailer drops, many have opinions about the unsettling new film.
While much of Reddit’s conversation around The Plague focuses on its psychological horror and coming-of-age themes, parents are reading between the lines. This movie taps directly into the fears many adults carry about what their kids experience when they’re not around.
Several Redditors point out that the film doesn’t rely on monsters or supernatural threats. Instead, it centers on exclusion, social hierarchy, and peer pressure. These are things kids still navigate daily in schools, sports teams, camps, and online spaces. For parents, that realism can be harder to watch than traditional horror.
Redditors also note how powerless the adults in the film seem. It’s a detail that may resonate deeply with parents who worry about what they can’t see or fix for their kids. One recurring sentiment across threads is also that The Plague feels less like a movie and more like a reminder that childhood pain doesn’t always look dramatic, but it can still leave lasting marks.
It’s disturbing because it’s familiar.
Here are some quotes that stood out to us…
“This doesn’t look like typical horror — it feels like the dread of not fitting in, of being watched and judged by kids who already decided your whole life before it even started.”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
“People at Cannes are really talking about how this movie manages to make you feel the anxiety of those adolescent micro-moments — not just watch them. That’s rare.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“It’s not about a literal plague — it’s about being socially exiled. That’s what makes it so uncomfortable.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“It’s fascinating how something set around water polo camp can feel like a mirror to your worst school experiences — the hierarchy, the pressure, the silent cruelty. It’s almost more terrifying because it could happen.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“That trailer hit way harder than I expected — the psychological dread is real.”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
“Honestly, this looks like Lord of the Flies meets a body horror coming-of-age story.”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
“Cannes buzz on this is insane — people are calling it one of the most uncomfortable but brilliant depictions of bullying.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“I’m not usually into horror, but this looks more like psychological tension than jump scares — that’s actually more intriguing.”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
“Feels like that part of childhood everyone pretends didn’t exist — the social cruelty at camps and schools.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“This feels like the kind of movie that sticks with you because it’s all stuff that actually happens.”
—Reddit user reacting to Cannes buzz in r/moviereviews
“This looks emotionally brutal. I want to see it, but I’m not sure I’m ready.”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
“Why does water polo suddenly feel like the most ominous sport imaginable?”
—Reddit user reacting to the trailer in r/movies
Early Critical Response on ‘The Plague’ Movie
Early critical response to The Plague has been overwhelmingly strong, with many reviewers calling it one of the most emotionally unsettling films of the year. Critics who saw the movie at Cannes praised its unflinching look at bullying and social power dynamics, noting that the horror doesn’t come from monsters or jump scares, but from the kind of everyday cruelty many people remember from childhood.
Reviewers highlight the raw performances from the young cast and the claustrophobic summer-camp setting, which turns ordinary moments into sources of anxiety and dread. While some critics caution that the film’s intensity won’t be an easy watch—definitely not for kids, and maybe not even you. The consensus is clear: The Plague isn’t just a coming-of-age story. It’s a reminder of how deeply formative (and lasting) childhood social experiences can be.