from the series Movie Corner…
4/5 Stars
Thriller/Dark Comedy/Crime/Satire
Focus Features
By HOWARD MCQUITTER II
Conspiracy theories are “written” everywhere (or so it seems) in another one of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ films: Kinds of Kindness (2024), Poor Things (2023). Bugonia is where the uneasiness and bizarre meet somehow and somewhere.
Two men, Teddy and Don, are cousins and fanatical conspiracy theorists who believe Michelle, a CEO of a pharmaceutical company, is really an alien that has come to Earth to destroy an unassuming house. To be specific, Teddy believes Michelle is an Andromedan, an alien who starts killing the bees before going on to kill humanity. Both men interrogate her, trying to force her to admit that she’s an alien. All the while Michelle pleads to them to let her go. As the film progresses, Teddy becomes even more violent and insane. These men seem to be hopeless and vulnerable, striking out at what they believe to be a successful, powerful person who is out to do harm to the eight billion people on Earth.
As good as Emma Stone is in Bugonia, this is really Jesse Plemons’ movie. Bugonia is based on the South Korean film Save the Green Planet (2003), directed by Jang Joon-hwan who is also the screenwriter.
Bugonia
Cast: Emma Stone (Michelle), Jesse Plemons (Teddy), Aidan Delbis (Don), Stavros Halkias (Casey), J. Carmen Galindez Barrera (Ricky)
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos.
Cinematography: Robbie Ryan.
Original Music: Jerskin Fendrix.
Running time: 118 minutes.
Rated: R
HOWARD MCQUITTER II is a longtime movie critic. He has been reviewing movies for the alley since 2002.
