Movie Review — Bugonia, What If the Conspiracy Theorists Are Right?

Bugonia is adapted from the 2003 Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! The story follows two conspiracy-obsessed cousins who kidnap Michelle (Emma Stone), a pharmaceutical CEO, convinced she’s an alien plotting to destroy Earth. They imprison her in a basement, shave her head, slather her with “anti-alien lotion,” and interrogate her about doomsday plans, bee extinction, and lunar eclipses.

I wonder how many people will vibe with this one. Yorgos Lanthimos’s films never play by the rules, and Bugonia is no exception. It’s got his signature eccentric style, pitch-black humor, and plot developments so absurd you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. If you’re someone who actually believes in conspiracy theories, this film will slap you in the face. The final twist feels like the director telling the audience: “Yep, it’s exactly what you think!”

Performances That Walk the Line Between Terrifying and Tragic

Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, a conspiracy theorist corrupted by the dark web. He keeps bees in his backyard, believes aliens are about to annihilate Earth, and is convinced Michelle’s hair can communicate with an alien mothership. His paranoia and madness are portrayed as both frightening and pathetic.