Bugonia (2025)
7.369 /10
1301 Reviews
Rate This Movie:
Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Michelle
... Teddy
... Don
... Casey
... Sandy
User reviews
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/bugonia-review/
"Bugonia functions primarily as a stage for the memorable performances of Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, who carry the movie with intensity and charisma.
Although Yorgos Lanthimos maintains his cohesive visual style and the tonal balance between black comedy and violence, the discursive and predictable approach to its central themes — humanity, corruption, paranoia, inequality — prevents it from achieving the complex resonance of his best films. Something didn't quite click in the narrative execution, but it remains a peculiar and entertaining experience, albeit with a short-lived thematic impact.
It leaves us with the message that, sometimes, the most fearsome monsters don't come from space, but rather from the reflection we find in the mirror."
Rating: B-
Director:
Genres:
Release Date:
2025-10-23
Run Time:
119 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
Bugonia
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/bugonia-review/
"Bugonia functions primarily as a stage for the memorable performances of Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, who carry the movie with intensity and charisma.
Although Yorgos Lanthimos maintains his cohesive visual style and the tonal balance between black comedy and violence, the discursive and predictable approach to its central themes — humanity, corruption, paranoia, inequality — prevents it from achieving the complex resonance of his best films. Something didn't quite click in the narrative execution, but it remains a peculiar and entertaining experience, albeit with a short-lived thematic impact.
It leaves us with the message that, sometimes, the most fearsome monsters don't come from space, but rather from the reflection we find in the mirror."
Rating: B-
In an age where distinguishing what’s genuine on its surface from something that’s clandestinely veiled, it may be difficult to know what to believe. As a result, we might give up and disregard making any attempt to identify inherent (and potentially significant) differences. Or, by contrast, we may become so obsessed with reconciling such matters that we descend into a sea of paranoid conspiracy theories, potentially seeing them at every turn and placing us on the sidelines of reality with no credibility to our names. In actuality, the “truth” probably resides somewhere in between, but where and how do we draw the lines of accurate and meaningful distinction? Those are the considerations continually raised and examined in this new dark comedy/fable from director Yorgos Lanthimos in which a pair of intellectually challenged cousins, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis), kidnap the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), believing that she’s an alien from Andromeda who’s quietly but determined to seek the destruction of mankind. But is their contention legitimate or the ravings of delusional madmen? The narrative continually vacillates in each direction, especially when the cousins’ captive employs some skillful psychological warfare to throw them off their game and undermine their confidence in their claim. In any event, this unlikely trio has an impending deadline of four days – the time before the alleged arrival of the Andromedan mother ship in connection with the next lunar eclipse – to resolve matters, a challenge made difficult by the emergence of several distracting subplots and the impact of Michelle’s gamesmanship on her captors’ plans. And, as the picture plays out, it raises intriguing questions about corporate motivations, unbridled greed, the sincerity (or lack thereof) behind public health initiatives, environmental degradation (particularly involving the welfare of bees and the role of colony collapse disorder (CCD)) and the true nature of Earth’s ancient past. It all makes for an intriguing mix of influences that never fails to captivate, an attribute made stronger by the fine, award-worthy performances of the three principals, a smartly penned screenplay, intriguingly clever special effects and an edgy, dramatic original score. A few pacing issues crop up at times, and several incidents of graphic violence may be more than what sensitive viewers can handle. But, those minor considerations aside, “Bugonia” is the first stellar awards season release to appear in this year’s movie marketplace and yet another brilliant work from Lanthimos, arguably one of the hottest directors in the business these days. This decidedly quirky offering probably won’t appeal to everyone, and viewers may not come away from it with any greater sense of clarity in terms of how to distinguish truth from deliberately concealed fiction. But, if nothing else, it gives us all much to think about as we attempt – no matter how successfully or futilely – to figure out what’s really going on in our world and what we might be able to do about it.
## **Bugonia 2025 Review: A Promising Descent into Disappointment**
*Bugonia 2025* begins with immense promise, weaving a tapestry of atmospheric dread and human emotion that is utterly captivating. For its first two acts, it’s a masterclass in slow-burn suspense, anchored by a powerfully raw and believable central performance. The story of a lonely farmer’s growing, obsessive connection with a mysterious, otherworldly woman is portrayed with such grounded sincerity that you are completely drawn into its haunting, melancholic world. The cinematography is all muted tones and wide, isolating landscapes, and the score hums with a tension that feels both intimate and cosmic. In this stretch, the film flirts with greatness.
However, a film is judged by its whole, and *Bugonia 2025* suffers a catastrophic third-act collapse from which it never recovers. The pivotal moment—the revelation that the enigmatic woman is, in fact, a literal alien—is where the delicate spell is broken. Instead of leaning into the chilling, biological horror or profound existential wonder the premise suggested, the film veers sharply into the realm of the absurd.
The carefully built tension dissipates into a cloud of silliness, culminating in the disastrous reveal of the Andromedans themselves. Gone is any sense of menace or awe, replaced by antagonists that look like they stumbled out of a low-budget 1970s sci-fi pantomime, clad in inexplicably bulky, knitted one-piece outfits that inspire more laughter than fear. Their spacecraft interior, which should be the pinnacle of the film's design, feels like a cheap studio set, utterly betraying the gritty realism so painstakingly established earlier.
### The Verdict
**5 out of 10 – A Tale of Two Movies**
*Bugonia 2025* is a frustrating paradox: a film that demonstrates a profound understanding of mood and character in its first half, only to abandon that subtlety for a climax of bafflingly poor execution. The final act doesn't feel like a payoff; it feels like a betrayal of the intelligent, atmospheric story that came before it.
It’s a cinematic Jekyll and Hyde experience, leaving you with the lingering disappointment of what could have been, rather than the satisfaction of a story well told. You leave not haunted by its themes, but bewildered by its choices.
**Watch it if:** You appreciate strong acting and atmospheric building, and don't mind a film that falls apart spectacularly in its final act.
**Skip it if:** You require a coherent and satisfying payoff to your sci-fi mysteries. The journey, while initially compelling, ultimately leads to a dead end of disbelief.
Convinced that the Andromedans are bent on taking over the Earth, cousins “Teddy” (Jesse Plemons) and “Don” (Aidan Delbis) hit upon a plan to force their emperor to discuss the terms by which he will withdraw his fifth-column forces from the world. That involves some anaesthetic, two pairs of stockings and the kidnapping of “Michelle” (Emma Stone). She is the successful chief executive of a blue chip tech company and is, they are convinced, an high ranking official in the enemy government. Actually getting hold of her doesn’t prove so much of a problem, but as they begin their very civilised interrogation it soon becomes quite clear that these two have - what might kindly be referred to as - a screw loose. She is confident that before long the authorities will spot she is missing and launch a full scale search; “Teddy” is equally satisfied that they can keep her under wraps until she reveals the secrets of their communication strategy. She tries a few different tacks to obtain her freedom, but is she ever going to be able to convince them one way or the other to set her free? Aside from taking a fairly joyous pop at some early sci-fi plots, this also sees Yorgos Lanthimos take a swipe at corporate greed and it’s work ethics and with Plemons on top form as the diplomatically minded cousin and Delbis as entertaining as his slightly slower on the uptake relative, the scene is set for an amiable series of scenarios that offer us a none-too-subtle series of parodies of so much of what modern day life thinks is real, important and/or plain shallow. Stone really does enter into the spirit of things and like Plemons, actually looks like she is enjoying the experience - even if at times it looked pretty painful. I did rather enjoy the last ten minutes, and I reckon this is well worth a cinema outing if you like your humour a little more cerebral and you don’t have an inter-stellar communicator in your pocket.
Wow, what a twist! I won't say anything about to avoid spoilers, but it's just mindblowing and unique movie. Definitely a masterpiece!
Brutal torture excused with a joke. It was intense. Excessive I felt but...corpo freaks! Tee hee the end with the lovely outfits.
I went in blind. It was fun. Some of the most interesting people in film all doing stuff. Watch it as it's more interesting than the other shit out there.
Cast & Crew of
Bugonia
Cast
... Michelle
... Teddy
... Don
... Casey
... Sandy
... Ricky / Security Guard
... Tony
... Corey
... Chris
... Tina
... Fredricka Whitfield
... Carlos
... EMT
... Detective
... Young Detective
... Chief Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Andromedan
... Doctor (uncredited)
Crew
... Director
... Original Film Writer
... Producer
... Producer
... Screenplay
... Producer
... Graphic Designer
... Title Designer
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Producer
... Sound Designer
... Casting
... Original Music Composer
... Hair Supervisor
... Makeup Trainee
... Concept Artist
... Additional Still Photographer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunt Double
... Key Grip
... Rigging Gaffer
... Lighting Technician
... Electrician
... Best Boy Electric
... Still Photographer
... Storyboard Artist
... Graphic Designer
... Graphic Designer
... Stunt Double
... Costume Design
... Electrician
... Stunt Coordinator
... Producer
... Producer
... Musician
... Music Supervisor
... Music Supervisor
... Musician
... Post Production Supervisor
... Stunt Double
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Props
... Dolly Grip
... Unit Production Manager
... Stunts
... Second Assistant Director
... Third Assistant Director
... Production Manager
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Grip
... Key Hair Stylist
... Stunt Double
... First Assistant Director
... Stunts
... Best Boy Grip
... Co-Producer
... Hair Department Head
... Stunts
... Grip
... Stunt Double
... Makeup Effects Designer
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Gaffer
... Stunts
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Production Sound Mixer
... Loader
... Second Assistant Camera
... Loader
... Production Supervisor
... Musician
... Orchestrator
... Stunt Double
... Set Costumer
... Costumer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Production Design
... Set Decoration
... Producer
... Producer
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Assistant Art Director
... On Set Dresser
... Sound Effects Editor
... Sound Designer
... Music Editor
... Scoring Mixer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Co-Executive Producer
... Co-Executive Producer
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Supervising Art Director
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Standby Art Director
... Art Direction
... Camera Operator
... Camera Operator
... Camera Operator
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Technician
... Makeup Supervisor
... Prosthetic Designer
... Key Hair Stylist
... Key Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Casting Associate
... Second Unit Director
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... Gaffer
... Art Direction
... First Assistant Director
... Set Decoration
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Steadicam Operator
... Set Dresser
... Lighting Technician
... Chief Lighting Technician
... Lighting Technician
... Sound Mixer
... Lighting Technician
... Art Direction
... Stunt Coordinator
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Effects Editor
... Sound Effects Designer
... Sound Effects Designer
... Foley Editor
... Foley Mixer
... Foley Artist
... Foley Artist
... Foley Artist
... Foley Mixer
... Foley Editor
... Music Editor
... Music Editor
... Foley Editor
... Visual Effects Producer
... VFX Artist
... VFX Artist
... VFX Artist
... Conductor
... Co-Producer
... Visual Effects Editor
... Colorist
... First Assistant Editor
... Dialogue Editor
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Hair Designer
... Makeup Designer
Videos & Photos of
Bugonia
Videos (3)
Photos 42
Similar Movies To
Bugonia
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
7.455/10
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.
Release: 2001-12-07
K-PAX (2001)
7.201/10
Prot is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from a far away planet. His psychiatrist tries to help him, only to begin to doubt his own explanations.
Release: 2001-10-26
Predator 2 (1990)
6.298/10
A police chief in the war-torn streets of Los Angeles discovers that an extraterrestrial creature is hunting down residents - and that he is the next target.
Release: 1990-11-21
The Fisher King (1991)
7.309/10
Two troubled men face their terrible destinies and events of their past as they join together on a mission to find the Holy Grail and thus to save themselves.
Release: 1991-09-20
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
8.18/10
In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?
Release: 1971-10-28
To Be or Not to Be (1942)
7.815/10
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.
Release: 1942-03-06
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
6.439/10
When an alien race and factions within Starfleet attempt to take over a planet that has "regenerative" properties, it falls upon Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise to defend the planet's people as well as the very ideals upon which the Federation itself was founded.
Release: 1998-12-11
The Wages of Fear (1953)
8.002/10
In a run-down South American town, four men are paid to drive trucks loaded with nitroglycerin into the jungle through to the oil field. Friendships are tested and rivalries develop as they embark upon the perilous journey.
Release: 1953-04-22
The Terminator (1984)
7.675/10
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
Release: 1984-10-26
Syriana (2005)
6.421/10
The Middle Eastern oil industry is the backdrop of this tense drama, which weaves together numerous story lines. Bennett Holiday is an American lawyer in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies, while Bryan Woodman, a Switzerland-based energy analyst, experiences both personal tragedy and opportunity during a visit with Arabian royalty. Meanwhile, veteran CIA agent Bob Barnes uncovers an assassination plot with unsettling origins.
Release: 2005-11-23
Natural Born Killers (1994)
7.054/10
Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.
Release: 1994-08-26
The Godfather Part III (1990)
7.42/10
In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege under his wing.
Release: 1990-12-25
In China They Eat Dogs (1999)
7.3/10
Arvid is an ordinary bank clerk who lives a rather unassuming life with his dear girlfriend. But his life is turned completely upside down when he bravely manages to avert a robbery against the bank where he works.
Release: 1999-09-10
One, Two, Three (1961)
7.501/10
In Cold War-era West Berlin, American Coca-Cola executive C.R. 'Mac' MacNamara is tasked with playing babysitter to his boss' spoiled 17-year-old daughter Scarlett, who proves more difficult than anticipated when she reveals that she is pregnant by a Communist.
Release: 1961-12-15
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
6.549/10
After paleoclimatologist Jack Hall is largely ignored by UN officials when presenting his environmental concerns about the beginning of a new Ice Age, his research proves true when a superstorm develops, setting off catastrophic natural disasters throughout the world. Trying to get to his son, Sam, who is trapped in New York City with his friend Laura and others, Jack and his crew must travel to get to Sam before it's too late.
Release: 2004-05-26
Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)
5.179/10
After a horrifying PredAlien crash-lands near a small Colorado town, killing everyone it encounters and producing countless Alien offspring, a lone Predator arrives to "clean up" the infestation.
Release: 2007-12-25
Caché (2005)
7.036/10
George, host of a television show focusing on literature, receives videos shot on the sly that feature his family, along with disturbing drawings that are difficult to interpret. He has no idea who has made and sent him the videos. Progressively, the contents of the videos become more personal, indicating that the sender has known George for a long time.
Release: 2005-10-05
Pi (1998)
7.117/10
A mathematical genius discovers a link between numbers and reality, and thus believes he can predict the future.
Release: 1998-07-10
Shaft (2000)
6.011/10
New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.
Release: 2000-06-15
Wild at Heart (1990)
7.038/10
Young lovers Sailor and Lula hit the road to start a new life together away from the wrath of Lula’s deranged, disapproving mother, who has hired a team of hitmen to cut the lovers’ surreal honeymoon short.
Release: 1990-08-17