Ever sat through a movie wondering, “Wait… what is this thing supposed to be?” Yeah, that’s Bugonia in a nutshell. Yorgos Lanthimos (you know, that guy who gave us Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness) has officially out–Lanthimos’ed himself here. This film isn’t just weird — it’s that brand of weird where you start to suspect the director spiked the popcorn.
From the opening scene, it’s a head-scratcher buffet. Every few minutes, you’ll find yourself asking, “Is this a horror flick? A dark comedy? Sci-fi? Surrealist fever dream? Did I accidentally walk into three movies playing at once?” Spoiler: maybe all of the above. But that’s kind of the fun — it’s like cinematic roulette.
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Now, don’t get too comfy in your arthouse seat, because this film does not believe in warning labels. One moment you’re listening to Teddy (Jesse Plemons) babble in philosophical nonsense about bees and cosmic destiny, and the next — BAM! — you’re knee-deep in a gory sequence that’ll make you spill your soda. There’s no time to look away. Lanthimos is that friend who shouts “BOO!” in the middle of a mindfulness retreat.
So here’s the setup: Bugonia is a reimagining of the 2003 Korean cult gem Save the Green Planet! The gist: Teddy (Jesse Plemons, doing career-best work) is a dedicated beekeeper who becomes convinced that Michelle (Emma Stone, crushing it again) — a pharma CEO with suspiciously perfect skin — might be an alien plotting to wipe out humanity. Naturally, he decides kidnapping her is the logical next step. Bees are at stake, people.
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From there, things spiral faster than a conspiracy theory subreddit. Themes of eco-anxiety, pharma distrust, and alien paranoia swirl together in a chaotic stew that’s both fascinating and, at times, “what the heck did I just watch?” territory.
Acting-wise, it’s gold. Stone and Plemons both go for broke — she’s got that eerie, dead-eyed charisma that makes you question your own species, and he’s pure bottled mania. Honestly, Plemons’ performance alone earns your ticket money.
Now, I dug this movie. It’s bold, bonkers, and often brilliant. But I can’t help wondering… is Lanthimos being profound — or just being weird for the sake of weird? Either way, my brain’s still buzzing (pun intended).
Final verdict: If you like your films unpredictable, unsettling, and sprinkled with existential honey — Bugonia delivers. Just maybe don’t bring a first date.
Grade: B+
About The Peetimes: It was not easy to identify great Peetimes for this movie. Even the easiest summarized scenes contain images, moments, and interactions that are of interest.
Nevertheless, the first two Peetimes work relatively well with the third one being the least optimal.
There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Bugonia.
| Rated: | (R) Bloody Violent Content | Suicide | Grisly Images | Language |
| Genres: | Comedy, Crime, Sci-Fi |
| USA release date: | 2025-10-31 |
| Movie length: | |
| Starring: | Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Alicia Silverstone |
| Director: | Yorgos Lanthimos |
| Writer(s): | Jang Joon-hwan, Will Tracy |
| Language: | English |
| Country: | Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, United States |
Plot
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.