Film Review – Bugonia (2025)

      **Bugonia, 2025.**

      **Written and Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.**

      **Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone, J. Carmen Galindez Barrera, Marc T. Lewis, Vanessa Eng, Cedric Dumornay, Charita Momma, Cherri Jones, Fredricka Whitfield, Rafael Lopez Bravo, Yaisa, Teneise Mitchell Ellis, and Roger Carvalho.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Two young men obsessed with conspiracy theories abduct the powerful CEO of a major corporation, believing her to be an alien bent on Earth's destruction. A film about kidnapping a CEO feels oddly cathartic given the unfortunate reality we face today. Under the wildly imaginative direction of Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia (reportedly a remake of South Korea’s Save the Green Planet, though I’m not equipped to assess the extent of this) presents a caustic comedy/thriller that aims for multiple impactful moments within its absurd premise.

      The kidnapping duo isn't composed of regular citizens or entirely virtuous characters. One is a conspiracy theorist, while the other is his long-standing best friend who has severe autism (and contrary to what some may think about his clueless antics being played for humor, he is the more astute of the two and hasn’t completely lost touch with reality). He is fiercely loyal and easily led into outrageous schemes, adhering to a life devoid of pleasures, which they deem distractions from their self-appointed mission to save the planet.

      In other words, Teddy (Jesse Plemons, committed to embodying a lunatic while channeling the real-life absurdities of people we encounter daily) is portrayed as quite foolish; he is the type who would voluntarily castrate himself (and compel his friend Don to do the same) because he suspects that attractive humanoid aliens might exploit them sexually. He also indulges in an unhealthy obsession with researching the distinction between aliens and humans, complete with drawings of what their spaceships supposedly look like.

      Teddy is convinced that high-powered pharmaceutical CEO Michelle (may Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos continue their collaboration) is a high-ranking alien plotting world domination, guiding him and Don (newcomer Aidan Delbis, who shows impressive comedic timing) towards her leader. They devise an absurdly flimsy plan to abduct her right from her driveway, intending to shave her head during their escape, driven by the belief that her kind can track and communicate through hair follicles. This exemplifies the outrageous conspiracy theories at play.

      However, Michelle is not without her flaws. She demonstrates a lack of awareness in her treatment of employees, suggesting they can leave at the end of their shifts while simultaneously pressuring them to work overtime. She can deliver a well-rehearsed speech on diversity for corporate branding but seems disengaged from such social causes. Therefore, while Teddy's delusions are alarming, Michelle is not portrayed sympathetically either. Nonetheless, she finds herself at the mercy of an increasingly erratic man who blames influential figures like her for his own troubles, including issues he’s experiencing with beekeeping (which serves as a societal commentary), raising concerns for her safety.

      Bugonia also avoids reducing Teddy to sheer foolishness. Yorgos Lanthimos incorporates short explorations of his background without disrupting the flow of the narrative, shedding light on this man's empathetic side and the factors that have plunged him into a disturbing online rabbit hole, disconnected from reality. There exists pain and unresolved trauma within him, with a former police officer from his childhood attempting to re-establish contact, not only to investigate the abduction but also to find the right words to apologize for some unspoken offense.

      Jesse Plemons delivers a performance that is not just humorously pathetic, mind-bogglingly naive, and gullible (attributes he constantly argues against to his friend, claiming to be more enlightened than society), but also evokes sadness. There’s a moment when Michelle realizes she can manipulate him in return, resulting in a darkly humorous punchline that is simultaneously tragic and amusing. Occasional moments of vulnerability and insecurity lead to vividly shot episodes of violence (masterfully captured by cinematographer Robbie Ryan), such as when he reacts vehemently to perceived insults to his intelligence at the dinner table.

      What prevents Yorgos Lanthimos from achieving a fully masterful execution once again is his own restraint: it’s not the audacity laid out in the final 10 minutes of Bugonia, but rather the mixed messaging. Still, he delivers a bleak and striking montage that nearly justifies the tonal leap. The rest of the film, however, is acutely incisive.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder