Bugonia

Wow, what a twist! I won't say anything about to avoid spoilers, but it's just mindblowing and unique movie. Definitely a masterpiece!

Convinced that the Andromedans are bent on taking over the Earth, cousins “Teddy” (Jesse Plemons) and “Don” (Aidan Delbis) hit upon a plan to force their emperor to discuss the terms by which he will withdraw his fifth-column forces from the world. That involves some anaesthetic, two pairs of stockings and the kidnapping of “Michelle” (Emma Stone). She is the successful chief executive of a blue chip tech company and is, they are convinced, an high ranking official in the enemy government. Actually getting hold of her doesn’t prove so much of a problem, but as they begin their very civilised interrogation it soon becomes quite clear that these two have - what might kindly be referred to as - a screw loose. She is confident that before long the authorities will spot she is missing and launch a full scale search; “Teddy” is equally satisfied that they can keep her under wraps until she reveals the secrets of their communication strategy. She tries a few different tacks to obtain her freedom, but is she ever going to be able to convince them one way or the other to set her free? Aside from taking a fairly joyous pop at some early sci-fi plots, this also sees Yorgos Lanthimos take a swipe at corporate greed and it’s work ethics and with Plemons on top form as the diplomatically minded cousin and Delbis as entertaining as his slightly slower on the uptake relative, the scene is set for an amiable series of scenarios that offer us a none-too-subtle series of parodies of so much of what modern day life thinks is real, important and/or plain shallow. Stone really does enter into the spirit of things and like Plemons, actually looks like she is enjoying the experience - even if at times it looked pretty painful. I did rather enjoy the last ten minutes, and I reckon this is well worth a cinema outing if you like your humour a little more cerebral and you don’t have an inter-stellar communicator in your pocket.

## **Bugonia 2025 Review: A Promising Descent into Disappointment** *Bugonia 2025* begins with immense promise, weaving a tapestry of atmospheric dread and human emotion that is utterly captivating. For its first two acts, it’s a masterclass in slow-burn suspense, anchored by a powerfully raw and believable central performance. The story of a lonely farmer’s growing, obsessive connection with a mysterious, otherworldly woman is portrayed with such grounded sincerity that you are completely drawn into its haunting, melancholic world. The cinematography is all muted tones and wide, isolating landscapes, and the score hums with a tension that feels both intimate and cosmic. In this stretch, the film flirts with greatness. However, a film is judged by its whole, and *Bugonia 2025* suffers a catastrophic third-act collapse from which it never recovers. The pivotal moment—the revelation that the enigmatic woman is, in fact, a literal alien—is where the delicate spell is broken. Instead of leaning into the chilling, biological horror or profound existential wonder the premise suggested, the film veers sharply into the realm of the absurd. The carefully built tension dissipates into a cloud of silliness, culminating in the disastrous reveal of the Andromedans themselves. Gone is any sense of menace or awe, replaced by antagonists that look like they stumbled out of a low-budget 1970s sci-fi pantomime, clad in inexplicably bulky, knitted one-piece outfits that inspire more laughter than fear. Their spacecraft interior, which should be the pinnacle of the film's design, feels like a cheap studio set, utterly betraying the gritty realism so painstakingly established earlier. ### The Verdict **5 out of 10 – A Tale of Two Movies** *Bugonia 2025* is a frustrating paradox: a film that demonstrates a profound understanding of mood and character in its first half, only to abandon that subtlety for a climax of bafflingly poor execution. The final act doesn't feel like a payoff; it feels like a betrayal of the intelligent, atmospheric story that came before it. It’s a cinematic Jekyll and Hyde experience, leaving you with the lingering disappointment of what could have been, rather than the satisfaction of a story well told. You leave not haunted by its themes, but bewildered by its choices. **Watch it if:** You appreciate strong acting and atmospheric building, and don't mind a film that falls apart spectacularly in its final act. **Skip it if:** You require a coherent and satisfying payoff to your sci-fi mysteries. The journey, while initially compelling, ultimately leads to a dead end of disbelief.