This is absolutely one of those films that benefits from knowing as little as possible beforehand.
Bugonia is a 2025 dark comedy written by Will Tracy and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, based on the 2003 Korean film Save the Green Planet. Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Aidan Delbis, this was a movie I went into with almost no expectations—and honestly, very little enthusiasm. Lanthimos has always been one of those filmmakers I assumed just wasn’t for me. His films looked strange, off-putting, and deliberately weird in ways that didn’t exactly scream “my kind of movie.”
Turns out, I was wrong.
I caught Bugonia streaming on Peacock, mostly because I had the time and figured I had nothing to lose. What I ended up with was one of the more surprising and enjoyable movie-watching experiences I’ve had in a while. I’m genuinely curious to explore the rest of Lanthimos’s filmography.
Without getting too deep into spoilers, the basic setup is simple: two men kidnap a powerful CEO because they believe she is an alien. That’s really all you need to know going in. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play the kidnappers, while Emma Stone plays the executive at the center of their conspiracy. This is absolutely one of those films that benefits from knowing as little as possible beforehand.
What makes Bugonia work so well is how it constantly takes you in directions you don’t expect. The movie toys with your assumptions, manipulates your perspective, and keeps shifting the ground under your feet. That manipulation is very much intentional and completely central to what the film is trying to say. The script doesn’t just tell a story about belief and control; it actively practices it on the audience.
This is a dark comedy, but not a laugh-out-loud one. It’s more satirical and observational, with humor rooted in discomfort and recognition. The film is very much about how people cling to beliefs, even when confronted with overwhelming evidence that they’re wrong and, just as importantly, how easily others can be convinced of something that is true and still refuse to accept it. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. The commentary feels extremely relevant to the world we live in now.
Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone are both excellent here. Their characters are intelligent, resourceful, and deeply flawed in different ways. Stone’s Michelle Fuller operates from a polished, corporate, power-driven worldview, while Plemons’ Teddy Gatz represents a more conspiratorial, internet-research-driven mindset. Watching these two go head-to-head is where the movie really shines. Their exchanges feel like a battle of wits, and the film is at its best when it lets those confrontations play out.
Another standout element is the score by Jerskin Fendrix. It’s one of those soundtracks that sneaks up on you. You don’t really notice it at first, but once you do, it becomes impossible to ignore. The music gradually takes on a personality of its own and adds an extra layer of tension and unease to the film. After hearing this score, it’s easy to understand why his work on Poor Things earned awards attention.
Bugonia definitely isn’t for everyone. If you’re allergic to weirdness or uncomfortable themes, this probably won’t convert you. But if you’re like I was — on the fence about Lanthimos and unsure if his style is for you — this is a great entry point. In fact, I’d go so far as to say this might be his most accessible film, or at least it feels that way to me.
I’m glad I finally gave this one a chance. It challenged my expectations, entertained me, and left me thinking long after it was over. That’s more than I can say for most movies. Bugonia is a sharp, unsettling, and surprisingly engaging dark satire. It’s a film I’ll definitely be adding to my collection.
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
