I didn’t think I’d find myself rooting for a scruffy beekeeper to kidnap Emma Stone
Bugonia is a basement full of conspiracy theories, blood, and bee metaphors, and is a remake of cult Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet (2003).
Plot Summary of Bugonia (Spoiler-Free)
Bugonia centers on Michelle Fuller, a cold, hyper-efficient CEO of a US pharmaceutical company, played by Emma Stone, who seems untouchable, living a life of privilege while running a company that profits from unsafe medicines and environmentally questionable practices.
Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, a scruffy warehouse worker and amateur beekeeper whose life has gone off the rails, and convinced that Michelle is an alien plotting humanity’s destruction, Teddy kidnaps her with the help of his fragile cousin Don, holding her in a remote farmhouse basement.
Bugonia Review: Is It Worth Watching?
Bugonia is quite a wild, strange ride that won’t be for everyone I don’t think, but for anyone willing to embrace what it brings to the screen, it’s an experience worth having.
Emma Stone is great here, as she delivers a performance that is icy, witty, and occasionally vulnerable, as she makes Michelle feel both cold and yet oddly sympathetic at the same time, and Jesse Plemons is equally impressive as Teddy, someone Ive always liked, but here he brings a combination of intensity, fragility, and complete unpredictability.
Then we have Don, played by Aidan Delbis, who deserves a special mention.
Aidan Delbis is a young actor on the autistic spectrum, and he holds his own against two experienced co-stars and brings a quiet humanity to a film full of extremes, where his awkwardness, hesitation, and sometimes naive loyalty make him a key emotional anchor of the film.
But the best part about Bugonio is the film’s style, because Lanthimos does not do anything subtly.
Robbie Ryan’s cinematography is simply gorgeous, shot on 35mm film, giving every frame a tactile quality, where most of the action happens in the basement, which could feel claustrophobic or dull in lesser hands, but Ryan keeps it all visually interesting.
And the score by Jerskin Fendrix (aka Joscelin Dent-Pooley) does a fantastic job here too, as it’s muscular, sometimes nerve jangling, and shifts between ominous drones and orchestral swells, and it perfectly underscores both the tension and absurdity of the story.
There are laughs sprinkled throughout Bugonia, mostly dark and uncomfortable, but I sometimes wished the film leaned harder into comedy given how absurd some situations get, and while the satire is sharp, it occasionally feels like the jokes are being held back just enough to make you wait for them to land.
The pacing though is the film’s main flaw, and the first hour can feel sluggish as we set up characters and their motivations, such as Teddy’s descent into full blown conspiracy theorist, and the early sequences certainly drag a bit.
But once the film reaches its final act, it turns into a blood-soaked, absurdist spectacle, where we get gore, slapstick, and a delirious mix of tragedy and comedy that makes the wait worth it, and these final sequences, which take the story across massive timelines help really elevate the film.
Bugonia is a film that is more than willing to be messy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable – it’s a Lanthimos film through and through, but it’s also a bit more grounded than some of his previous work, especially in the performances, which make the absurdity feel human and relatable.
There are certainly moments where the movie’s absurdity does push it close to breaking, but it never quite tips over, and even when the plot stretches to millions of years in the final act, the characters keep you invested.
Bugonia is a strange, thrilling, and occasionally frustrating film, but it’s funny and tragic all at once, and a film that will definitely divide audiences, but for me, the performances, visuals, and sheer audacity made it worth it.
What I liked (And What I Didn’t like)
Pros
Emma Stone’s Icy Performance
She makes Michelle Fuller both fascinating and relatable.
Jesse Plemons
Volatile, tragic, and somehow charming at the same time.
Aidan Delbis
A quiet emotional anchor played superbly.
Robbie Ryan’s Cinematography
Even a basement feels cinematic and dynamic here.
The Final Act
Visually wild, absurd, and satisfying.
Dark Humor
Laughs that hit just when you least expect them.
Creative Score by Jerskin Fendrix
Shifts between ominous and nerve-jangling perfectly.
Bold Commentary
A sharp, timely satire on online obsession and corporate greed.
Cons
Sluggish Pacing Early On
The first hour drags before the chaos kicks in, and will probably lose some viewers by that point.
Flashbacks Are Underused
Alicia Silverstone’s scenes could have been expanded.
Absurdity Risks Overwhelming the Story
Some people will find it all a bit too chaotic.
Not For Casual Viewers
Requires patience and willingness to embrace weirdness – it’s going to be loved and hated in equal measure I think.
Who might like Bugonia
- Fans of Yorgos Lanthimos absurdist style
- Anyone who enjoys dark comedy
- Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons fans
- People interested in modern conspiracy culture satire
- Fans of visually inventive, stylistically bold films
- Those who enjoy unpredictable, chaotic narratives
- Anyone willing to sit through slower, dialogue-heavy setups
Who might dislike Bugonia
- People expecting a straightforward film
- Anyone sensitive to graphic violence
- Audiences who dislike slow pacing
- Those looking for conventional comedy
- Anyone uncomfortable with absurdist storytelling
- If you’re expecting a light, easy watch
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching Bugonia?
Bugonia is funny, horrifying, absurd, and occasionally heartbreaking, and while it can drag at times, the narrative payoff makes the entire ride worthwhile.
Messy, brave, and very Lanthimos.
Bugonia Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More
And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.
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