Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have done it again.
Not even two years after the release of “Poor Things,” “Bugonia” becomes the fourth feature film collaboration between director Lanthimos and Stone. Released on Oct. 31, the gory sci-fi thriller-comedy bursts through the boxes of its genres, instead delivering a surprisingly environmentalist and sympathetic criticism of human nature and corporate greed.
On first impression, the premise of the film seems almost laughable: a blockbuster sci-fi extravaganza about a conspiracy theorist who wants to save humankind by kidnapping a CEO, whom he believes to be an alien. Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the CEO of a major biotechnology company, while Jesse Plemons delivers an equally outstanding performance as Teddy Gatz, the scruffy conspiracy-theorist-beekeeper. The signature surrealist style of Lanthimos transports the audience into a world where all of this makes perfect sense — a world that is an eerie mirror image of our own.
Stone’s performance as Fuller, in all of her cold, pristine, corporate CEO billionaire glory, is no doubt impressive. Despite being the “victim,” she manages to make the audience hate her character each time she opens her mouth to spew corporate jargon at her captors. Even in the surreal situation that Fuller is in, tied up by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien (while also being bald and slathered in lotion), Fuller just cannot seem to shut her mouth. The coldness of her responses and her lack of concern for other people make audiences question if she’s human at all. Lanthimos conveys that maybe the difference between alien and human, monster and person, is so minuscule that it doesn’t matter what Fuller really is.
Parallel to Fuller is the film’s real protagonist, Gatz. The film is sympathetic toward him despite his violent and crass actions, and Plemons delivers the nuance of the character beautifully. The film reveals that Gatz is the victim of a broken society: one that has failed him, one that has left him with no choice or purpose and one that has convinced him that what he is doing is his purpose. Most evidently, the film argues, it is a society that is embodied by Fuller.
The film continues its anti-corporation rhetoric with its environmental commentary. Most blatantly, the film conveys this through Gatz’s occupation as a beekeeper who blames corporations for the decline of bee populations. However, for me, the most impactful moment of the film was not the gore or the twists, but the placid ending sequence, contrary to the intensity of the rest of the film. Pete Seeger’s lyrics linger in the mind as a final testament to the inevitability of humanity’s self-destruction. As a folky guitar strums, a woman’s voice floats a cheery yet haunting melody. “Where have all the flowers gone?” she questions. “When will they ever learn?”
Despite being packed with social commentary, “Bugonia” does not feel weighed down by the issues that it addresses. The script is packed with comedic dialogue between Plemons and Stone, making the theater audience chuckle frequently. There is a scene with Green Day’s “Basket Case” blasting over screams of agony. The sheer ridiculousness of the situations that the characters are in, along with its comedic dialogue, gives a sense that the film is self-aware and comfortable in its own absurdity.
As a thriller, “Bugonia” is effective in its shock value. Most of the gore is justified in its… goriness. Near the midpoint of the film (you’ll know where), my jaw dropped, and it stayed dropped for the rest of the film. The pacing is engaging, and there was never a point where I felt bored. The soaring epic score, atypical of a thriller, matched the scope of the big screen and was spectacular to witness. Hearing the audience laugh, gasp and scream also enhanced the viewing experience. All of these elements made watching “Bugonia” one of the best theatergoing experiences I have had.
“Bugonia” is a relevant yet refreshing film, addressing big-picture issues while maintaining an engaging experience. For a film marketed by its genres, defining “Bugonia” by just its qualities as a sci-fi-thriller-comedy does not quite capture the scope of its identity. Modern yet timeless, watching “Bugonia” was an impactful experience, with commentaries on corporate greed, human nature and the fruitless pursuit of righteousness echoing long after the credits roll. It makes audiences question: when did we go wrong?
Rating: 4.5/5
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Featured Image via Focus Features
