Yorgos Lanthimos has a knack for making the weird feel utterly captivating, and his latest film, Bugonia, is no exception. This darkly comedic sci-fi thriller, which boasts an impressive 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, is a near-perfect ride from the first frame to the last. If you haven't caught it yet, you're missing out on one of the most unhinged and thrilling movies in recent memory.
The story kicks off with Teddy (Jesse Plemons), a conspiracy theorist who becomes convinced that Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), a high-powered CEO, is actually an alien in disguise. With the help of his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), Teddy kidnaps Michelle and holds her captive in a basement, determined to force a confession. The central question—Is she or isn't she an alien?—drives the narrative, keeping viewers on edge as the tension and dark humor build.
Lanthimos, known for his surreal style in films like The Favourite and Dogtooth, finds a perfect playground in Bugonia. The movie is a loose remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, but Lanthimos makes it his own, blending genres so seamlessly that you're never quite sure what you're watching. Is it sci-fi? A thriller? A dark comedy? The answer is all of the above, and that ambiguity is part of the film's genius.
The performances are stellar across the board. Plemons brings a manic intensity to Teddy, while Stone delivers a layered portrayal of a woman who may or may not be hiding extraterrestrial origins. Delbis rounds out the trio as the skeptical cousin caught in the middle. Their dynamic shifts throughout the film, and you'll find your own allegiances changing as the mystery deepens.
Much of Bugonia takes place in the single location of the basement where Michelle is held, giving it a claustrophobic, bottle-episode feel. This intimacy puts the spotlight on the writing and acting, which more than carry the weight. For fans of single-location thrillers, this is a masterclass in tension-building.
While the pacing occasionally lags, and some may guess the ending, the journey is so engaging that it hardly matters. The film dances in a gray zone between possibilities, never fully committing to one answer until the very end—and even then, Lanthimos leaves room for doubt. It's a testament to his skill that the movie remains compelling even when you think you've figured it out.
Compared to Lanthimos' previous collaboration with Stone, Poor Things, Bugonia is less visually extravagant but no less impactful. Both films earned Academy recognition, and Bugonia stands as one of the director's most accessible works. With an 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear that both critics and viewers are on the same page: this is a film worth watching.
If you're new to Lanthimos, Bugonia is a great entry point. It's weird, funny, and unsettling all at once—a movie that contains multitudes. Whether you're a fan of near-perfect storytelling or just looking for a thrilling ride, Bugonia delivers from start to finish.
