Bugonia review: Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons face off in madcap sci-fi satire

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A star rating of 4 out of 5.

On four consecutive occasions, director Yorgos Lanthimos has chosen Emma Stone to star as his main actress. The upcoming film is titled Bugonia, a unique blend of corporate satire and science fiction that echoes the singularity of their prior collaborations, including The Favourite (released in 2018), Poor Things (premiering in 2023, which earned Stone her second Oscar), and the debated and underwhelming Kinds of Kindness (released in 2024).

This comedy-drama is a modern adaptation of the 2003 South Korean movie “Save The Green Planet!” by Jang Joon-hwan, and it’s bound to appeal to audiences who enjoy the quirky and unconventional perspectives presented by Lanthimos in his films.

Making its debut at the Venice Film Festival, Bugonia initially appears as a kidnapping narrative but soon takes a more unusual and intense turn. Jesse Plemons, an alumnus of Kinds of Kindness, portrays Teddy, a character with a tightly-wound demeanor and a distinctly unkempt appearance who works in the packaging division at biomedical company Auxolith, led by Michelle Fuller – a CEO known for her power suits.

As an amateur beekeeper myself, I occasionally share my honey with my coworkers. Much like many others who care about our environment, I’m deeply concerned about the declining bee population. The narrative unfolds as I join forces with my somewhat eccentric and untidy cousin Don (Aidan Delbis, making his first appearance on screen) for a mission of critical importance: to kidnap Michelle.

As a movie buff, let me share my unique perspective: I’m not driven by monetary gains or seeking ransom; rather, I firmly believe Michelle is an extraterrestrial who’s taken human form on Earth, with the malicious intent to annihilate our society. With a lunar eclipse looming, her plan is to coerce Michelle into guiding us to her spaceship so I can save humanity from impending doom.

The kidnapping doesn’t proceed smoothly; instead, Teddy and Don find themselves at Michelle’s contemporary home, where a struggle ensues, with Michelle putting up a strong fight, reflecting her aggressive kickboxing skills learned from her personal trainer. They drag her to the basement of Teddy’s secluded residence, where they shave off her hair, claiming it’s necessary to prevent her from contacting her spaceship. They then try to coerce her into admitting she’s an alien.

The situation unfolds as a test of determination between Teddy and Michelle, who appears to be embodying the stereotype of corporate ruthlessness, according to Teddy, due to her resistance to diversity training and her opposition to the recent policy that allows employees to leave work at 5:30 PM.

Is he suffering from a mental disorder? Does his perception of her being an extraterrestrial hold some truth? The unfolding narrative, brimming with intensity, delivers quite a blow in its climax. Darkly humorous and gory twists, which are both unsettling and amusing, can accurately be described as black comedy at its finest.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my admiration for the sharp and thought-provoking script of Bugonia, crafted by the brilliant Will Tracy – a writer who has graced us with his unique storytelling in Succession and The Menu. This captivating tale feels like an extraterrestrial perspective, yet it strikes an uncanny chord as it exposes the alarming reality of how corporations have come to dominate our world, ruthlessly prioritizing profits over everything else.

It could be said that it’s plausible that we are steering our own path towards destruction. They say that sometimes a species simply runs out of steam, and while it may provide plenty of humor, the message behind this is that our planet appears to be moving towards an extinction event.

Restoring the bald Stone and Plemons together is a clever decision by Lanthimos, who enjoys having these actors confront each other in the underground scenes, playing a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. Alicia Silverstone also has a minor yet crucial part; her appearance might be more enjoyable if it remains unspoiled. (This version maintains the original’s essence but simplifies some terms and structures for easier understanding.)

Deviating significantly from the initial film and notably by changing the gender of the Stone character, this adaptation presents plenty of unexpected twists, even for viewers who’ve seen the Korean version. A newspaper headline on Teddy’s wall reads, “Are We Alone?” – a question that makes one ponder if we truly are.

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2025-08-28 20:36