Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
Yorgos Lanthimos is on a roll lately, cranking out one film after another. With “Bugonia”, he gives us one of his most interesting stories yet. We observe two conspiracy theorists (Teddy and Don) who decide to kidnap Michelle, the powerful CEO of a pharmaceutical company. They are convinced she is an alien posing as an important corporate figure, planning the enslavement of humanity. Teddy and Don begin a game of psychological warfare with Michelle, where both defend their position with unwavering resolve. Who is telling the truth? And what will it mean for humanity?
Positives:
I will chalk “Bugonia” up with films I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. It is one of the best films of 2025 and provided an experience so memorable that I will be thinking about it long past awards season. Yorgos Lanthimos is a filmmaker who I’ve mostly enjoyed, but his work has occasionally felt distant. “Bugonia” has no such problem, kicking into high gear right away after its hypnotic opening. There are some wonderful shots of bees pollinating at the beginning and end of the film, directly connecting to the thematic undertones throughout the film. Lanthimos quickly establishes who his characters are, where Teddy and Don are troubled but intelligent young men who believe they have unearthed the greatest secret in human history. They operate as “cogs in the machine”, believing the corporations of the world have begun to take advantage of its workers. Their correlations to unusual patterns point them in the direction of Michelle, who they believe is partaking in an underground operation with an alien race to enslave humanity through said corporations. Michelle on the other hand is a textbook example of a modern CEO who masks her true intentions through corporate lingo and smoke screening. She uses her corporate power to take advantage of her employees and customers purchasing her products.
These characters not only make for a tense battle of will, but also reflects the times we are in today. There are lots of people who get sucked into conspiracy theories, adding to social unrest and misinformation. At the same time, the film also credits those willing to think outside the box. It gives them plausible reasons to distrust corporations, media, and those in power. It also examines a corporation’s ability to start taking advantage of regular people of all ideologies, hiding behind clean public perceptions and powerful connections. At the same time, we also see the human side of Michelle, who is able to shift her personality around like a chameleon. Credit to Emma Stone for tackling this role as confidently as she does. She is able to appear sinister and powerful when she wants to be, but also concerned and diplomatic when the situation suits her. This is one of her most impressive roles to date! Jesse Plemons is equally magnetic as Teddy. His ability to convincingly display his concern for underground alien activity is impressive. As the film goes on, we see the traumatic nature of his character come to fruition. There are so many layers to his persona, making Plemons’ performance all the more impressive as the film goes on. Both Michelle and Teddy are presented in one way at the beginning of the film, but Lanthimos uses great care to peel back the layers to give perspective to each of them.
I am impressed with how much thematic material the film is able to balance. Outside of being a perspective based battle of wills, it also has lots to say about the human condition in these trying times. Not only are conspiracy theories and misinformation prominent, but we also see how destructive humanity can be. This is true for both personalities, whether it’s getting sucked into a far fetched conspiracy theory that leads to extremist behavior or a corporate leader who strokes their own ego at anyone’s expense. People’s flaws are weaponized to be taken advantage of. We also see how trauma can make someone more susceptible to crazy theories and behaviors, especially in Teddy’s case. I love how the film is able to switch the audience’s allegiance (at least in my case), once believing Michelle is a victim of extremism. But we then find plausibility in Teddy’s theory, where in times of crisis the one who sounds crazy might actually be sane. Audiences won’t know who is right until the final act of the film. I can’t forget about the incredible score either. It’s strange and bold in the most unique way, displaying the intensity and magnitude of what is going on throughout this crazy circumstance. This is truly an experience where the payoff is worth the wild ride!
Negatives:
“Bugonia” is one of Yorgos Lanthimos’ most seamless films, so it’s hard to find issues that took away from the experience. The main part of the film that may divide audiences is the final act. It delivers some bonkers reveals combined with excessive gore. The reveal might not work for some due its eccentric nature, but I personally believe it fits the themes of the film beautifully. But if Lanthomis and his over the top approach didn’t work for certain audiences before, it won’t work for them here. There are also lots of ideas being tossed around, which may appear as an attempt to overstuff too much into one film. Again, this will be subjective to the viewer.
Conclusion:
Yorgos Lanthimos has crafted a wonderfully weird exploration into modern humanity with “Bugonia”. To my surprise, it may be my favorite film in his catalog. It combines timely themes troubling humanity while crafting a perspective based mystery in the process. The small setting and character driven narrative work wonderfully. Every minute of the runtime is used efficiently to explore these ideas. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons deliver Oscar worthy performances, having a psychological battle for the ages. I highly recommend checking out “Bugonia” for its thoughtful storytelling and magnetic characters. It is one of the best films of the year and gives audiences a fresh story that warrants a trip to the theater. Independent film can still deliver!