Bugonia - Review: A Claustrophobic Masterpiece of Tension

BUGONIA

"In a world flooded with lies, paranoia might just be prophecy."

User Rating ★★★★☆

Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 91%

Genre Sci-Fi / Comedy

Runtime 118 Mins

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Two conspiracy-obsessed young men, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis), kidnap Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the high-powered CEO of biotech giant Auxolith. Convinced she is an alien from Andromeda orchestrating Earth's destruction, they subject her to a bizarre interrogation that blurs the line between madness and terrifying truth.

Behind the Lens

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Screenplay: Will Tracy (The Menu)

Cinematography: Robbie Ryan (VistaVision)

The Cast

• Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller
• Jesse Plemons as Teddy Gatz
• Aidan Delbis as Don
• Alicia Silverstone as Sandy

My Review

Rays Review

"Bugonia is a fascinating thriller from eccentric director Yorgos Lanthimos. The film is shot in a paranoia-inducing style with a bombastic soundtrack that keeps the viewer off balance. Even some of the cinematography has an off-kilter perspective. Lanthimos shoots in a classic 35mm film, boxy 3:2 aspect ratio to contribute to the claustrophobia.

A lot of the film's tension depends on how the viewer perceives the beliefs of the Jesse Plemons character, Teddy. Is there even a fragment of truth in his extraordinary, conspiracy-tinged beliefs? We see his traumatic experiences have contributed to his fragile state of mind. Is that enough to elicit sympathy from the audience for his torture methods? That's the question the film is constantly asking.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos does an impressive job of keeping the suspense tight. The best moments in the film are the verbal sparring between Teddy and Michelle. In lesser hands, the heavy dialogue could turn tedious, but Lanthimos never allows that, keeping the visuals interesting and the drama moving.

The only thing working against Lanthimos with Bugonia is his reputation. With films like The Lobster, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness, his works usually operate in a surreal kind of reality. We expect something extraordinary in his stories. It's an element, at least for me, that I expect now from his movies, although I won't reveal if that's the case here. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop."

✔ THE FIRE

• Stone and Plemons' electric chemistry.
• Visceral, grainy 35mm VistaVision visuals.
• One of the most shocking endings in years.

✖ THE ASH

• Deliberately alienating tone.
• A bleakness that leaves you feeling hopeless.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The title refers to an ancient ritual where bees were thought to spontaneously generate from a **dead ox carcass**.
• Emma Stone actually **shaved her head** in a single, high-pressure take using four simultaneous cameras.
• Newcomer **Aidan Delbis** was cast as Don after Lanthimos sought a non-professional neurodivergent actor for a unique dynamic.
• The surreal ending was filmed on the lunar-like cliffs of **Sarakiniko Beach** in Milos, Greece.

Final Verdict: 9.0/10

"A deranged, brilliant showcase of modern sci-fi satire."

Bugonia is a riveting film featuring career-highlight performances from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. It is a standout notable film of 2025 and deserves a definite recommendation.

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