4K Ultra HD Review – Bugonia (2025)

      **Bugonia (2025)**

      Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

      Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Yorgos Lanthimos's eleventh feature film, *Bugonia*, is available on 4K Ultra HD, featuring a code for digital access and just one bonus feature. This was my first encounter with one of his films, and it has inspired me to explore his previous works since 2001. If you appreciate films that take unexpected turns in their conclusions, I’d recommend this as a worthy blind purchase if you haven’t seen it yet.

      *Bugonia* marked my first experience with a Yorgos Lanthimos film, and it has motivated me to delve into his other projects. It carries a hint of the Coen brothers' style, yet it tells a distinctive story that presents its own perspective on the world. More of this kind of storytelling, please. (And yes, I recognize this is a remake of a Korean film, *Save the Green Planet!*.)

      In the film, Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the CEO of the pharmaceutical company Auxolith, who is abducted by conspiracy-obsessed Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons) and his autistic cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis), who reluctantly participates in the plan. Teddy is convinced that Michelle is part of an alien race known as the Andromedans, who disguise themselves as humans and are systematically eliminating honeybees in an effort to dominate humanity.

      Teddy and Don restrain Michelle in their basement, shaving her head and applying an antihistamine cream to her body, which Teddy believes will stop her from calling for help from her alien brethren. With a lunar eclipse approaching in four days, Theodore insists that Michelle must arrange a meeting with her emperor to avert disaster for the planet.

      How is she expected to reach out to her kind while being prevented from doing so by Teddy? Such inquiries are often dismissed by conspiracy theorists, leaving Michelle to engage in a psychological dance with him, hoping for a chance to escape.

      As the CEO of a recognized corporation, her disappearance is widely publicized, prompting local law enforcement to investigate the vicinity of Teddy and Don’s home, following signals from Michelle’s cell phone before it was destroyed. Notably, a sheriff’s deputy named Casey, who once caused Teddy some childhood trauma while babysitting him, appears to ask questions.

      This psychological thriller takes an unexpected twist at the end, which I won't reveal. I anticipate it will divide audiences, but I personally belong to the camp that found it exceptional. The conclusion felt like an ideal resolution without resorting to cliché tropes.

      Universal has released *Bugonia* on 4K Ultra HD, accompanied by a Blu-ray and a digital copy code. Given its recent production, the film looks impressive, likely comparable to what viewers saw in theaters, although I can't confirm that firsthand.

      The sole bonus feature included on the disc is *The Birth and the Bees: The Making of Bugonia*, running for 23 minutes and featuring insights from Stone, Plemons (who I greatly admire), and others, along with behind-the-scenes footage. It’s unfortunate that the feature isn't longer, and I’m disappointed by the absence of a commentary track, though I’m unsure if Lanthimos tends to avoid extensive discussions about his work. Perhaps Criterion or another specialty label will release a special edition packed with features in the future.

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

      Brad Cook