Bugonia (2025) Film Review: Absurdist black comedy/thriller is bold and totally unhinged

---

The latest big screen venture by multi-award-winning Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia (2025) is an English language remake of the 2003 South Korean picture Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan.

This feature marks the fourth collaboration with his favoured star, Emma Stone, who won her second Oscar last year when she starred in his critically acclaimed Poor Things (2023).

Ari Aster of Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019) fame also came on board as a producer in the early stages of production.

The plot follows two cousins - conspiracy theorist, Teddy, played by Jesse Plemons, and his loyal, less sharp partner in crime, Don (Aidan Delbis), who kidnap the high-powered CEO (Stone) of a major company, convinced that she is secretly an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

Like many previous works of Lathimos, Bugonia shares this director's completely unique, ambitious and often bonkers cinematic voice. There is arguably nothing else in the industry quite like what Lathimos is able to conjure up from his strange, yet exciting creative mind, and fans of his filmography will certainly find much to enjoy with his latest feature.

Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone stars as a powerful CEO of a leading company, who is kidnapped by two conspiracy-obsessed cousins who believe her to be an alien with hostile plans for Earth

Firstly, the film looks absolutely gorgeous, with regular collaborator Robbie Ryan providing a rich, crisp quality to the image and making all of the colours really pop off the screen. From one of the very first shots, an extreme close-up of honey bees working in their natural habitat amongst flowers, viewers are instantly reassured that they are in for a splendid visual treat.

The movie also incorporates an unconventional, smaller aspect ratio, which provides greater focus and emphasises a sense of claustrophobia in the piece, especially when Stone's character is eventually captured by the cousins.

There is a well-realised, striking contrast between the polar opposite worlds in which these characters reside and work, with Michelle's sterile corporate environment extending to her upmarket home and extravagant workout and diet routines differing completely from Teddy and Don's cluttered, yet somewhat cosy farmhouse and humble bee farm.

There is definitely an abrasive, cynical quality to Will Tracy's screenplay and Lathimos' darkly satirical direction, shining a negative light on capitalism, large businesses and their damaging impact on the environment.

The script is intelligent and compelling, despite the more unorthodox stylistic and tonal approach, with many dialogue-heavy sequences between Teddy and Michelle, who is forced to make the best out of a bad situation and get on her captor's good side by using her wits and business savvy smart talk, giving both actors plenty of time to display their fierce acting chops.

Bugonia features director Yorgos Lathimos' distinctly absurdist/black comedy style, whilst blending other genre conventions from thriller, crime, science-fiction (and even horror at times!)

Both Stone and Plemons are simply marvellous in their respective roles, and one can expect nothing less from Emma, considering her winning track record partnership with Lathimos in recent years. In the beginning, she plays the typical 'girl boss' persona, commanding the screen and her co-workers effortlessly; later becoming more vulnerable when she is kidnapped, but nevertheless remains resilient, with Stone demonstrating her excellent natural comedic timing with her very human mannerisms, expressions and gestures.

Jesse Plemons smoothly meets Emma's level, delivering one of his best performances in recent memory. It is a true delight to see him take on a leading role here, playing a complex character with a troubled backstory and a slightly disillusioned worldview, which causes him to go to extreme lengths to prove himself to the world.

Both performers clearly understand and revel in the farcical, absurdist nature of the movie's wild plot and completely lose themselves in their roles.

The film is full of ideas regarding social, political and environmental issues and is often surreal in its execution, remaining deliberately ambiguous throughout and open to different viewer interpretations of what it all really means.

Due to the more offbeat, bizarre approach to its dark humour and biting satire, the movie can often be quite nonsensical as one becomes wrapped up in its complicated layers, and it will definitely not be everybody's cup of tea, especially regarding its potentially divisive, bold ending (which will not be spoiled here!).

The true identity of Michelle is handled particularly well, with nicely placed plot twists and turns constantly leaving audiences second-guessing themselves and resulting in quite the entertaining ride.

The film is largely both philosophical and psychological through its conversational set pieces, which do provide engaging viewing more often than not; however, there is a noticeable dip in pacing during the middle act. This may also be a result of the movie's conflicting tones of farcical humour and more intense, traditional thriller elements.

Jesse Plemons' Teddy leads a simple life as a factory worker and avid bee-keeper, yet his deep plunge into the world of online conspiracies sparks a fight in him to stop an apparent alien invasion before it is too late...

The film definitely earns its higher rating, being surprisingly gnarly and even gory at points. There is a particularly harrowing torture sequence showcasing Stone hooked up to a machine, as Plemons quickly grows tired of her attempts to talk herself out of the situation and almost kills her with some terrifying electrocution treatment.

Lathimos certainly pulls no punches regarding graphic visuals, and he comfortably dips his toes into the macabre with some nasty, bloody imagery which would not at all look out of place in your typical slasher horror! It is all good fun for the casual or avid cinemagoer, although those more squeamish viewers may be advised to proceed with caution.

Special mention must also go to Jerskin Fendrix and his sufficiently epic score. It is the perfect kind of music to complement Lathimos' unique, twisted vision, utilising a bombastic, loud soundscape which is just as unpredictable and unhinged as the film's narrative. It is also quite similar to Jonny Greenwood's contributions to this year's One Battle After Another, and one would not be surprised if both composers manage to score big at the awards season.

All in all, Bugonia is another wonderful film from one of the most original, fascinating directors working in the industry today.

Featuring the successful oddball coupling of Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, the movie is unapologetically weird and unashamedly cynical in its examination of corporate culture and timely environmental problems affecting the whole world.

Carried by extraordinary lead performances, a solid, enticing concept and spectacular technical standards, fans of Lanthimos' and Stone's previous work will (hopefully!) not be disappointed.

Check out the trailer for Bugonia (2025) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!