Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia Is Punishing, But Emma Stone Can Do No Wrong

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he loves mankind but can’t stand people.

The story, titled Bugonia, introduces us to Teddy, portrayed by Jesse Plemons, a melancholic character who works a monotonous job and shares an affection for bees, maintaining a hive in his somewhat rundown home. He’s a man well-versed in understanding the world, having delved deep into research on the internet, and he educates his less experienced, potentially intellectually impaired cousin Donny (Aidan Delbis) about his discoveries.

Teddy is a man struggling with distress after witnessing his mother, portrayed by Alicia Silverstone in limited scenes, undergo an ineffective treatment that has left her in a coma. The heartbreaking sight of his mother’s suffering has pushed Teddy to the edge. However, he has devised a strategy to rectify the situation. He shares this plan with Donny, explaining they will save the world together. To achieve their goal, Teddy puts Donny through intense physical workouts to build strength and administers some sort of drug regimen designed to suppress normal sexual desires, ensuring they remain focused on their objective. Despite his hope for a future relationship, Donny reluctantly agrees to comply with Teddy’s plan.

In my perspective as a fervent narrator, I’d rephrase it like this:

I, as an ardent storyteller, find myself delving into the mind of a character named Teddy. This individual harbors an unusual intention – to capture Emma Stone’s fictional character, Michelle Fuller, who heads a colossal tech corporation that seemingly prioritizes profits over people’s well-being. However, it’s not your typical vendetta that drives him. Instead, he holds a belief that Michelle is an extraterrestrial being hailing from Andromeda, despatched to Earth with the intent of annihilating it.

Once Teddy and his associate Donny successfully secure Michelle in their basement (following her hair shaving for reasons to foil the Andromedans’ advanced technology from locating her through DNA traces in her hair), the plan is to compel her into summoning her mothership. This will grant them access, enabling Teddy to engage in negotiations with her extraterrestrial overlords to secure Earth’s freedom.

Perhaps the title Bugonia might give off an entertaining vibe, as the film does incorporate some extreme, exaggerated depictions of violent gore. However, director Lanthimos deliberately emphasizes the gruesome and raw aspects of the story. Bugonia is a contemporary adaptation of the 2003 South Korean science-fiction comedy Save the Green Planet. The script was penned by Will Tracy, who has previously written for shows like Succession and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and also authored the screenplay for the 2022 satirical film The Menu. Lanthimos collaborates once again with actors he appreciates, including Plemons and Stone, who had roles in his previous movie, the 2024 production Kinds of Kindness. These skilled performers bring their expertise to the table.

In the captivating world of “Bugonia,” Lanthimos unleashes his dark, almost comical brutality unfettered. The scene where Teddy electrifies a helpless Michelle is gruesomely staged, complete with Green Day’s “Basket Case” blasting loud enough to muffle her cries. Though Lanthimos and the skillful cinematographer Robbie Ryan subtly capture this sequence, it leaves us hearing more than we see. However, as a spectator, I can’t help but question whether we should be witnessing such intense violence inflicted upon a character portrayed by Stone – or any actor for that matter. Lanthimos seems to be compelled by his dark impulses.

There are some who claim that either you appreciate Lanthimos’ films or you don’t, but this idea implies that if you find his movies uncomfortable, it’s simply because you lack the sophistication to understand them. However, I’d advise against accepting such a premise. Lanthimos’ films often come across as deeper and more meaningful than he may believe. Nevertheless, it would be unwise to completely dismiss him as a filmmaker. Occasionally, he delivers unexpected gems like The Lobster, which deftly explores the poignant realities of human loneliness in an offbeat manner, or the eccentric and imaginative Poor Things, a platform that showcases Emma Stone’s mental acuity and physical ingenuity.

Stone exhibits remarkable talent and versatility as an actor. She’s capable of anything-yet this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always appropriate. In ‘Bugonia’, she’s hilariously sharp as a cold-blooded executive, rushing through the recording of a diversity training video. Her portrayal of a wily Joan of Arc, with her rough-shaven head, is chilling and convincing. She shines most in the film’s unexpected finale, which, thanks to her performance, feels poignant and melancholic. However, Lanthimos makes us endure challenges, perhaps even becoming tedious at times. This could be his way of reminding us that life isn’t always pleasant, and he’s trying to convey a message. It’s just that sometimes, one wishes for fresh insights instead of reaffirmations of the obvious.

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2025-08-28 22:06