Bugonia: An Entertaining Ride Down The Rabbithole

Writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos run of films over the last 15+ years has been nothing short of impressive so now, he’s off to a well-deserved break but before that happens, here is Bugonia. Based on the South Korean film ‘Save the Green Planet!,’ the film is perhaps his most accessible yet, and also timely in a scary way. Similar to this year’s Eddington, it speaks our current fractured society where the divides that separate us are further exacerbated by the internet and other media that simply muddy the waters as we we try to make sense of what is happening in the world today. Some are of course more susceptible than others, but continuing on the path of conspiracy theories or alternate truths can often lead to disaster. Turning again to stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, they deliver strong performances in this uncomfortably hilarious sci-fi dark comedy. What inherently won’t be for everyone, the film doesn’t lay all its cards on the table in trying to explain its fractured characters. While they may seem a bit erratic on screen, in their mind, their actions make sense to them. In the end, it’s not about agreement, but rather understanding. Leaving audiences on edge throughout, there’s a tension in their unpredictability which works here, assuming one hasn’t become bored of its premise.

Bugonia is centered around Teddy (Plemons) and his cousin Don (Delbis), two young men consumed by conspiracy theories. Dictating every aspect of their lives, Teddy, the more fervent of the two, led the way, with Don following him along the way. A complicated dynamic that the film arguably does not dive into enough, the arc of that relationship was an interesting one to watch, especially when Michelle (Stone), the high-powered CEO of a major company, was added to the mix. Kidnapping her, convinced she was an alien intent on destroying Earth, Teddy wanted her to admit the truth and help he and Don negotiate a deal with her people for their departure from the planet. It would not be until the three of them were together in a basement until we witness the intensity of their beliefs, fueled by online conspiracy theory themed message boards and videos. Spewing thoughts and ideas that appear crazy on paper, the only things that mattered is that they believed in them. Meanwhile, the thought that Michelle was an alien may seem just as ridiculous, but she was adamant that she was not. Finding themselves in an ideological stalemate, she managed to talk herself out of potential trouble by playing into her captors’ delusions and the growing cracks in their relationship as what to do next with her became a major point of contention.

That being said, the run of three characters in a basement was clearly not going to last forever, but the tension of what Teddy and Don would do next. While flawed, they believed in what they believed in, though how far they’d be willing to go for those beliefs remained to be seen. As the truth began to surface, what was truly at play became clear, shining a light on Teddy’s inner psyche in terms of the present. However, this made for more promising material left undiscovered, instead opting to double down on ridiculousness once the walls came closing in on Teddy and his plan. It was only inevitable that there would be a response to Michelle’s disappearance. In spite of his plan falling apart, he remained adamant in seeing it through, all the while the question of her true identity also remained unanswered. Appearing to simply be playing along with Teddy to survive, the longer the film goes on, one can’t help but question if that was truly ever the case. Above all else, Michelle was no damsel in distress. Very calm and calculated, she knew what she was doing and had plenty of tricks up her sleeve if needed. Culminating in a fiery conclusion, as explosive as it may be, the lack of closure is a bit disappointing.

Ultimately, the best part of Bugonia is the aforementioned great performances from Stone and Plemons. Perhaps not the deepest of characters, Michelle is more important for what she represents, rather than for who she is. Nonetheless, the exaggerated way Stone plays her is still entertaining to watch. Keeping relatively calm in the face of her captivity, there was definitely more going on to the cold and calculated CEO. That mysterious aspect to her, as ridiculous as it may or may not be, added a level of tension that worked among other characters prone to entertaining the notion. Plemons, playing the kind of character audiences are not accustomed to seeing from the actor, is compelling to watch as a vulnerable man looking to make sense of his circumstances, turning to conspiracy theories for answers. It was that desperation that eventually pushed him over the edge. Even so, in the midst of his outlandish beliefs, it is easy to empathize with Teddy. Similarly, Delbis’ Don was a scene-stealer, sticking around more so to support his cousin as a grounding presence than for his particular beliefs.

Bugonia won’t be for everyone but this timely sci-fi dark comedy works thanks to its trademark Yorgos Lanthimos zaniness and strong performances from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.

still courtesy of Focus Features

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.