Charles Salom | Staff Writer
The moon landing is fake, the CIA killed JFK, and Obama is a lizard.
The fringes of our society, extending far beyond both parties, have believed in many conspiracies that range from insane to kernels of truth that have been exaggerated.
This fringe mindset is where Yorgos Lanthimos places us at the beginning of his black comedy thriller “Bugonia.”
The film features two conspiracy theorist cousins, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis). They suspect that healthcare CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) is actually an alien here to destroy Earth.
It’s wonderful to see one of the most talented actresses of her generation, Emma Stone, choose to work with such an unconventional filmmaker as Yorgos Lanthimos. And here, Bugonia easily stands out as my favorite collaboration.
The film beautifully ties together comedy, suspense, and darkness in a way only Yorgos could achieve.
Featuring two-time Academy Award winner Stone in a dark basement with her head shaved and covered in lotion is worth the price of admission all on its own. Stone’s performance shifts from a composed CEO to a frantic kidnapping victim, terrified for her life.
The opening of Bugonia introduces the class dynamic with Teddy and Don exercising outdoors in the forest, followed by an injection to castrate themselves to avoid being seduced by an alien.
On the opposite side, Michelle is engaged in a highly optimized “de-aging” routine, including cardio, light therapy, and MMA training. Teddy rides his bike to work, Michelle drives her G-Wagon while sipping on her Stanley.
This clear separation of lifestyles comes to a halt when worlds collide, and Michelle is now a hostage in Teddy’s home.
Jesse Plemons is the mastermind behind these operations, with his computer filled with models of what he assumes the Alien ships could look like and pages of “research”.
Emma Stone, Jessie Plemons, and Aidan Delbis appear in a scene from Bugonia (Courtesy of Focus Features).
The constant back-and-forth between Stone and Plemmons is filled with great tension as Plemmons’ eyes shine with enlightenment; he, in his heart of hearts, truly believes Michelle is an alien. Showing no cracks in his armor, Plemons delivers an exciting and scary performance of what can happen to a man when systems like healthcare promise the solution but only cause more pain.
Aidan Delbis plays Don in his acting debut, and what an exciting debut appearance it really is. The Autistic actor shines alongside Plemons and Stone, with the script requiring him to bring comedy through his physicality, as well as a deep level of sadness.
While all of the performances in Bugonia are excellent, I found the first half of the film somewhat repetitive, with Stone trapped in the basement. However, the performances smooth over any pacing issues, and the film picks up momentum shortly after.
Along with stunning performances, Bugonia captivates with its symphonic score composed by Jerskin Fendrix, which gradually evolves into an extraterrestrial-sounding cacophony.
Bugonia is Lanthimos’s effort to sympathize with the marginalized and victims of “late-stage” capitalism.
Tech and healthcare CEOs seem more interested in ruling than helping. Altman, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and Musk promise us a future utopia on Mars or in AI.
When people like Teddy and Don need help right now, Bugonia hopes that we stop judging and start listening.
About Post Author
