Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, ‘Bugonia’ explores class tension and alien conspiracies
By BELLA PETERSON — arts@theaggie.org
*Note: This review is spoiler-free!
Yorgos Lanthimos has been on nothing but a roll recently. Following the back-to-back releases of Academy Award-nominated “Poor Things” (2023) and “Kinds of Kindness” (2024), Lanthimos debuted his latest film, “Bugonia,” on Oct. 31. While he’s not new to the scene, the Greek filmmaker has certainly been gaining more and more momentum over the past couple of years, after beginning a close working partnership with actress Emma Stone.
Lanthimos’ work with Stone began in 2018, when he released “The Favourite,” a witty historical comedy about Queen Anne’s court. Immediately after, he approached Stone with his concept for “Poor Things,” which took years to develop but paid off in solidifying his style — outrageous, dreamlike and centered around themes of power and control.
“Bugonia” details the story of a man named Teddy (Jesse Plemons), who abducts Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the chief executive officer (CEO) of the pharmaceutical corporation he works for alongside his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis). In doing so, he hopes to reveal her as the alien he believes her to be.
Lanthimos is known for his eccentric approach to storytelling: one that isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. Depending on the crowd, you may hear people say he’s one of the greatest directors of our time or that he’s the exact opposite. This polarity reveals the truly experimental nature of each shot, character and line he creates. Lanthimos’ fresh eye for filmmaking is exactly what Hollywood needs in a time of live-action remakes and Blockbuster sequels.
“Bugonia” is Lanthimos’ interpretation of the 2003 South Korean sci-fi comedy “Save the Green Planet!” created by Joon-hwan Jang. “Bugonia” was created using remnants of its predecessor, but still manages to reflect Lanthimos’ own unique perspective that has been shared in his previous films.
As for its intriguing name, “Bugonia” actually holds a specific meaning for Lanthimos: the Greek origins of the word represent the myth of bees being born out of the carcass of a dead ox.
The film “Bugonia” is a closely knit project, made up of only five main characters in total. Due to this intimacy, each scene feels like a character study, masterfully allowing each actor to play to their strengths at different times. It’s no surprise that Stone, who has previously starred in three other Lanthimos films and won an Oscar for her lead role in “Poor Things,” brings the heat with this project. There’s a chemistry between her and Lanthimos that is undeniable and reflects gorgeously on screen — Stone comes to life as Michelle Fuller, taking on a demanding and otherworldly persona.
When it comes to performances, it is essential to mention the absolute powerhouse that Jesse Plemons is as the main character, Teddy. Plemons’ emotions are completely raw in the movie, as he depicts a paranoid conspiracist that is dead-set on finding out the truth about Stone’s character. How do you get someone to reveal themselves as an alien? Plemons’ character discovers the answer to this question in multiple ways, all of which leave the audience gasping, laughing or in absolute silence.
Aidan Delbis, who played Teddy’s cousin, Don, proved incredibly impressive in his first feature film. The young actor — who is also on the autism spectrum — demonstrated how important young talent and autistic representation is in mainstream media.
With Don also being a character on the neurodivergent spectrum, it was important to Lanthimos to have an actor that would bring authenticity to the role. Not only is his role in the film stunning, but Delbis’ ability to carry a scene alongside actors with such decorated careers showed his bravery and confidence.
The story in “Bugonia” is not very easy to digest; it may be the type of film that requires multiple viewings in order to form a proper takeaway. There can be themes found in the film of environmentalism, class conflict, the modern day dilemma of what’s real, what’s fake and what’s believed to be “acceptable.” It’s thematically heavy and doesn’t shy away from brutal imagery. Many moments across the film take drastic turns — leaving audiences’ jaws on the floor — but the film certainly doesn’t present a needless kind of gore.
Pacing is always a unique factor in each of Lanthimos’ films: you never know if you’re going to get an audacious, fast-paced tale or a slow burn that gives you time to meditate on the material. When it comes to “Bugonia,” Lanthimos seems to find a middle ground, as the earlier parts of the film take on a normal pacing until the film reaches its rapid third and final act. The conclusion allows for audiences to finally breathe as they take in the coalescence of consequences that came with each character’s choices.
Overall, “Bugonia” is the perfect reflection of Lanthimos’ experimental talents. After displaying all of his strengths, critics are already speculating that the film will be a strong contender for many upcoming awards. Considering Lanthimos has finally decided to give himself a break from back-to-back films, now might be the perfect time to watch not only “Bugonia,” but his entire strange cinematic universe.
Written by: Bella Peterson — arts@theaggie.org
