The Plague

3.5 Stars out of 4

 
The recent TV series Adolescence, created quite a stir around the world. It even produced the youngest Emmy winner ever in Owen Cooper. It's a tough watch and extremely thought-provoking. The essential question asking, "What the hell is happening with kids right now?"

That's not to suggest bullying hasn't been around for a while. Lord of the Flies is 70 year's old, but we could probably go back thousands of years before that.

This movie is something different though. I remember this movie, even though it is most certainly not about growing up in my era. Children in groups (particularly around 12 or 13) can exhibit a kind of viciousness that can be hard to explain unless you've been on the wrong side of it. Sadly, I've been on both sides of this particular equation.

The "plague" in this case is a skin condition a boy named Eli suffers from, that cause the others to torture him. It's nothing he did or said, but just the skin condition that causes this. He's really kind of an interesting kid. The movies focuses its lense through the eyes of Ben, a newcomer to the camp who must decide if he wants to join the torturers or befriend the lone wolf. 

At first Ben goes along with the popular group, led by the evil Jake, who seems to be one of those kids who dreams up new ways to inflict pain on others. Although Ben goes along at first, he starts to wrestle with his own moral code at the tender age of 12. Is he really okay with this horrible shit? It's a question that history has asked throughout the ages. Would YOU have been the one to stand up in 18th century America against slavery? Or as a German citizen in Nazi Germany? We all would like to think we would be that person. 

Call me a cynic, but human nature says no. If history has taught us anything, it's that people will do almost anything to belong and avoid upsetting the herd. 

But Ben decides he is going to be one of these people, and he slowly befriends Eli. When he helps him treat his skin condition, the other boys decide that HE now also has the plague and he is now tortured as well. And I don't mean "teased" when I say tortured. I really mean the word tortured.

Ben begins to develop a skin rash like Eli, confirming to the other boys that he does indeed have the plague now. But viewers will understand the metaphor. The plague is not Eczema or some skin condition.

It's the extreme cruelty of adolescence.

The director Charlie Polinger cited Full Metal Jacket as one of the inspirations for this film. I can see why. In that movie we watch Private Pyle descend into madness as a result of sustained bullying.

It happens here as well. The ending leaves some room for interpretation. What are we to make of Ben's wild dancing at the end of the film? Is the message he has finally realized he doesn't care what other people think anymore, or is he descending into madness?

This one will stay with you for a while.