‘Bugonia’ is a bizarrely engaging new film

By Alfie Eville

Director Yorgos Lanthimos continues his streak of excellent film releases with “Bugonia.” In 2022, it was “Poor Things,” followed by “Kinds of Kindness” the next year. In 2025, he premiered an absurd and gross movie starring Emma Stone in a wacky role stuck in an even wackier situation. So, in short, it is another Lanthimos film.

The film follows pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller, played by a bald Stone, as she is kidnapped by cousins Teddy and Don, the former being played by Jesse Plemons, in what must be considered his sweatiest role, and the latter being played by Aidan Delbis. 

The motive behind taking Fuller does not align with a run-of-the-mill kidnapping, for the cousins believe who they have held captive in their basement is, not a mere woman, but an alien. Teddy is a self-proclaimed expert on all matters extraterrestrial who boasts several times regarding his cunning and privy to Fuller’s hidden identity. Throughout the movie, the audience is left to wonder whether they are actually right, because the way the film is framed, there is not an explicit “main character.” One could argue it is Fuller, while another could say it is Teddy. Both have equal screen time, and their motivations and goals are respected in the script. It is expertly written, and does not seem forced, since the mystery is not always central to the story. Although Teddy was the kidnapper, it is hard not to sympathize with his ultimate goal at times: to protect the Earth’s climate and the bees.

Central to the story’s theme is climate change, as Teddy is a beekeeper and incessantly brings up their declining population. The film does terrific work portraying humanity in this haunting light of how humans are the aliens to Earth and have selfishly intoxicated it with our lust, corrupting nature’s beauty. It is a theme that is not new, but in a movie about possible alien-kidnappings it is done so creatively that it feels so fresh and nuanced. That is just the Lanthimos effect, I suppose. 

Another integral theme is the growing wealth divide, with CEO Fuller representing the upper echelon of American society and wealth, while Teddy is packaging boxes for the same company, representing the opposite end of the spectrum. While the metaphor of “eat the rich” is very obviously there, it is less creative, and feels more thrown-in, compared to the prior theme just talked about. While not bad, and definitely on topic for the film, it is not executed as fluently.

The ending of the movie, without spoiling, feels like an omen to all viewers. A warning that showcases humanity at its lowest point; a point that we are very close to reaching, if not already at. It is a dreadful ending, and one that we hope to never see in our own timeline, but in fairness to “Bugonia,” it was really nice to see on the silver screen. I think this movie unraveled exactly the way I wanted it to without being easily predictable. Lanthimos, in less than 10 years, has produced some of the best films, starting with “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and now with “Bugonia.” 

I would say, personally, this film is just a hair below “Poor Things” for my “Favourite.” With the standout performances, exhilaratingly nihilistic plot, and profoundly applicable themes, “Bugonia” yields a strong 4.5 out of 5 stars, just shy of a perfect score.

Alfie Eville is a freshman history and secondary education major