Bugonia (2025) - black comedy starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons

WGH




'Bugonia' is Yorgos Lanthimos latest film and his most accessible. I liked his last two films, 'Poor Things' and 'Kinds of Kindness,' but my movie buddies are definitely not a fan. 'Bugonia' is easy to understand and a wild ride into alien conspiracy theories.




Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons) and his autistic cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) have really gone down the alien rabbit hole. The two conspirators kidnap pharmaceutical megacorporation CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), lock her in a basement and attempt to get her to admit she is an alien in disguise plotting to destroy communities and forcing humans into numb subservience. Emma has a shaved head because Teddy thinks aliens are able to communicate with their mothership through their hair.




Teddy is in way over his head and gets more and more frantic as he has only four days to negotiate a meeting with the Andromedan emperor before an upcoming lunar eclipse, which will allow the Andromedan mothership to enter Earth's atmosphere undetected and Michelle is not cooperating at all.




In real life, the young actor Aidan Delbis is on the autistic spectrum and does an excellent portrayal of a confused, well meaning conspirator who is manipulated and taken advantage of by Teddy.


'Bugonia' is a remake of the 2003 South Korean film 'Save the Green Planet,' which I also highly recommend. There is less torture in 'Bugonia' although I will still give it an R rating.
I reviewed 'Save the Green Planet' recently:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=193092.0


Both Emma and Jesse disappear into their roles. The plot has twists and turns and you're never quite sure where it is headed or how it will turn out.

Watch the trailer:
https://youtu.be/bd_5HcTujfc

 :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

stlrman

My wife and I really enjoyed this one !!!

kenreau

I really enjoyed it and bought the 4k kaliedescope movie.  Crazy ending, reminded me of The Substance. 

Thanks for the heads up on the original Korean version, that looks gnarly.

Mike B.

One of my top favorites from 2025. Three actors working at the highest level of their craft.

AllanS

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We liked “Poor Things” and the wife said “Bugonia” is on the watch list I’m allowed to choose from :roll:

nlitworld

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This film balances nicely the play between comedic absurdity and discomfort. I need to go back and re-watch it. Also agree that Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are some of the best currently acting.