Synopsis
In his latest movie, Yorgos Lanthimos is not trying to please the Academy. Following the massive success of Poor Things, he seems way more relaxed and confident enough to return to the weird, uncomfortable setups of his earlier work.
In Bugonia, the story follows two characters (led by Jesse Plemons) who are convinced that corporate America is run by aliens. Their plan is simple and absurd: kidnap a successful CEO (Emma Stone), torture her, and force her to reveal the “truth” to save humanity. What follows is a slow process of torture that feels crazy, intense, and surprisingly sad. It is a collision between people convinced of a delusion and a hostage trying desperately to outsmart them at their own game.
What I Liked
• The “All In” Absurdity: Lanthimos does not blink. He sets up an irrational premise and pushes the pedal to the floor. It recalls the unbending reality of Dogtooth or The Killing of a Sacred Deer, where the characters’ convictions are so strong that they bend the world around them without considering consequences.
• The “Outsmart” Dynamic: The tension comes from the intellectual mismatch. Emma Stone’s character is entitled, arrogant, and convinced she can manipulate her “simple” captors. She plays their game to secure her freedom. But Plemons’ character, despite his fanaticism, possesses a terrifying kind of competence. It is not easy to outsmart someone who operates on a different plane of reality.
• The Tragic Undertone: Beneath the kidnapping and the torture, there is a deep sadness. As we learn why Plemons’ character is so deranged, the movie shifts from a dark comedy into a tragedy. You feel a pathetic empathy for his quest. You know nothing good will come of this, yet you cannot stop watching what’s gonna happen.
What Could Be Better
• The “Fanatism” Exhaustion: Watching this film feels like arguing with a fanatic on social media amplified to life or death stakes. You feel from the start that nobody is going to win. This relentless inevitability might feel exhausting and tiresome for some, and impressive and intense for others. Either way, some viewers could feel it is not fun to watch.
• The Disgust Claustrophobic Factor: imply, it is hard to spend two hours trapped in a room with someone so deeply annoying and fanatic. For sure an experience, but one some people might not enjoy.
My Insight
We often dismiss fanatics as “stupid.” Bugonia argues that intelligence is irrelevant when conviction is absolute. Emma Stone represents the rational world: successful, arrogant, and logical. Jesse Plemons represents pure, irrational belief. In a fair fight, logic wins. But in a room where one person is willing to do anything because they believe they are saving the world, logic is defenseless. This captures the specific terror of the modern age. It shows that ignorance is the most dangerous thing in the world. Especially when it has the conviction to act.
Rating 🌟8/10.
A really good, intense, and stupidly funny experience that proves Lanthimos is best when he is allowed to be weird.
For Discussion
The film shows that logic often fails against pure belief. When you are trying to persuade an “irrational” friend, stakeholder, or just a social media user. Is it efficient to rely on data and logic? Should you use wits and subterfuge? Or just ignore and move on?
Related Works
- Dogtooth (2009) – For the origins of Lanthimos’s closed-system logic.
- The King of Comedy (1982) – For another look at the dangerous fanaticism of the “little man.”
- Misery (1990) – For the claustrophobic tension of a fan and captive dynamic.
Technical Info
- Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
- Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons
- Platform: Cinema and Buy to Stream
- Year: 2026
- Genre: Dark Comedy / Sci-Fi Thriller
- Recommendation: Totally recommended to watch. But prepare for a “bad and intense vibes”.
