'Bugonia' Review, Yorgos Lanthimos' Bizarre Battle Of Ideologies Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons

Bugonia, the latest film from Oscar-nominated Greek auteur director, Yorgos Lanthimos, is a wild ride into the world of paranoia, ideology, and societal collapse. The movie premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and is an American remake of the 2003 Korean cult classic, Save the Green Planet!. The film takes Yorgos Lanthimos' signature dark humour and clinical detachment into new, uncomfortably relevant territory. Here's what the critics and fans have to say about Bugonia.

Bugonia is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia is written by Will Tracy, best known for his sharp, darkly comedic work on Succession and The Menu. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone, and Stavros Halkias. With a runtime of 2 hours, the movie was set to premiere in select theatres on October 24, 2025, followed by a wide release on October 31, 2025. Bugonia is a reinterpretation of the 2003 cult Korean sci-fi thriller, Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan.

Bugonia plot and storyline

Jesse Plemons plays 'Teddy', a frazzled beekeeper and a staunch conspiracy theorist who believes Earth is under an alien siege. Emma Stone plays 'Michelle Fuller', the cold and cunning CEO of biotech giant Auxolith and 'Teddy' is sure she is an 'extraterrestrial' being, and he makes her his target. 'Teddy's' mother, was a victim of Auxolith's botched drug trials, and in his mission to take over 'Michelle', he is aided by his insecure cousin 'Don', played by Aidan Delbis.

'Teddy' kidnaps 'Michelle', he is convinced he must force her to communicate with her alien overlords and save humanity before a looming lunar eclipse. However, as 'Michelle' fights back mentally and physically, the film navigates a tightrope between satire, psychological horror, and biting social critique. Is 'Teddy' insane, or is he terrifyingly right?

Performances by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are unmissable in Bugonia 

Emma Stone is reuniting with Yorgos Lanthimos for the third time, and she is magnetic as the girlboss, ever-smirking CEO, 'Michelle'. She's less of 'Bella Baxter' from Poor Things and more of a blend of 'Elizabeth Holmes' and 'Miranda Priestly'. In the movie she supports a shocking bald, bruised look and by the end of the story, Emma walks the line between victim and villain with chilling grace.

However, it's Jesse Plemons who really steals the show in Bugonia. Wild-eyed, and speaking in a kind of deranged clarity, his version of 'Teddy' is both tragic and terrifying. He is a man broken by systems but also wholly consumed by his own ideology. Critics argue that this is his best performance to date.

Direction and themes are brilliant in Bugonia, and Yorgos Lanthimos is at his darkest and most relevant

Unlike Yorgos' recent work, like The Favourite, Poor Things, that were written by Tony McNamara, Bugonia is written by Will Tracy who brings in a sharper, more satirical edge similar to The Menu. The result is a film that questions not just corporate evil, but also the narcissism and futility of modern resistance movements. Yorgos drops his usual surreal, distant style of direction for something more intense and emotional for this film.

There's blood, torture, and a constant sense of dread, but also the dark humour and irony Yorgos is known for. At the heart of the story is a clash between a cold-hearted CEO and a fanatic who might be completely unhinged. However, their battle slowly becomes a bigger message that the world is falling apart, and even the people trying to save it have no real idea how to.

Bugonia's visuals and score are a controlled chaos

Cinematographer, Robbie Ryan gives the film a striking visual style, using VistaVision to create wide, detailed shots that shift between two very different worlds. On the one hand, there's the clean, polished look of corporate offices, which has sharp lines and sterile perfection. On the other hand, there's the dark, cramped feel of the underground bunker, where everything is messy, tense, and unsettling. 

This contrast helps highlight the film's themes of control vs. chaos. Composer, Jerskin Fendrix adds even more to the film's strange, intense atmosphere. His score is dramatic and a little off-balance. There is a mixing of operatic music with eerie, unexpected sounds. It mirrors the movie's tone perfectly, balancing horror with absurdity and making the tension feel even sharper.

Fans' reactions towards Bugonia 

Audiences who got to witness Bugonia during its early release were clearly rattled, but in the best way. Many praised Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for their fearless, go-for-broke performances. A user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, "I can't stop thinking about whether Michelle was an alien. Or maybe Teddy was right all along??" At the same time, another one said, "Emma Stone in #Bugonia is magnetic, dangerous and utterly unforgettable." 

Bugonia final verdict: It is hilariously horrifying

Bugonia is both deeply disturbing and wickedly funny, which is a rare sighting, as films this politically charged often play it safe. It's not Yorgos' most elegant work, but it's easily one of his most provocative films. The film raises uncomfortable questions, never gives clean answers, and offers a bleak but brutally honest look at a world that is on its brink.

What are your thoughts about Bugonia?

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