Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis
‘A Spectacular Satire’
Aliens that explore extra-terrestrial galaxies are often depicted in movies. Audiences embrace movies about astronauts that face hardships fighting aliens in space. On a personal level, I find films about aliens relatable. Many years ago, I formed a strong bond with a girl that was obsessed with the sighting of a UFO. Her face would always light up with a bright smile watching movies about aliens in a quiet place she would embrace. Fond of E.T., she jumped at the opportunity to see alien movies she loved dearly. A conspiracy theorist, she loved to list eye-opening theories about the arrival of aliens she cherished. Due to her obsession with the day the earth stood still, she would be bullied by peers that considered her ill. Being a sci-fi geek, she rarely fit in a school where students called her a freak. While most students dismissed her theories as rubbish, she was a promising young woman I would cherish. I would find it enjoyable to spend time with a girl appreciating close encounters of the third kind. I would always share love for science-fiction with a girl that I wasn’t aware was queer. However, sexual identity brought our bond to closure. Her decision to reveal she was a lesbian caused our bond to become lost in translation. No longer the favourite friend I adore, she became a woman I didn’t recognize anymore. As a friendly gesture, I attempted contacting her on Twitter. Reacting in a manner that proved to be hostile, she blocked her social media profile. Like lovers in L.A. parting way, our relationship went astray. It was challenging to move on following loss of a companion admiring science-fiction. In reflection, I treasure aliens that remind me of my past companion.
As someone treasuring a girl that appreciated aliens in the sci-fi genre, I adored “Bugonia”. Released in 2025, Yorgos Lanthimos’ movie honoured aliens. Packed with breathtaking visuals, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular satire. At the centre of it all is Emma Stone, who embodies an alien woman feeling alone. Although “Bugonia” is engaging, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, building ambiguous conclusions without resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of sci-fi movies.
“Bugonia” tells the story of a woman that’s mistaken for being an alien causing a dilemma. Emma Stone portrays Michelle Fuller, the powerful CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Michelle is a strong woman that has always excelled running her organization. However, Michelle’s life forever changes when she is abducted under pressure. Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons), her captor, is a conspiracy theorist that believes Michelle is an alien causing catastrophe. As she is held captive, Michelle struggles to prove that she isn’t an alien that’s destructive.
Yorgos Lanthimos has always been fascinated with themes of alienation. His award-winning film “The Favourite” captured alienated women competing to be the favourite mistress of a queen. With “Bugonia”, however, Lanthimos made his first alien invasion movie. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to remake a Korean movie about aliens but he succeeded. Evoking Ridley Scott’s “Alien”, Lanthimos effectively uses point-of-view shots capturing conspiracy theorists expressing views about alien species. For instance, the POV shots elevate the alien conspiracy scene. During this unforgettable scene, Teddy discusses conspiracy theories about aliens with his cousin. It brought back memories of a girl holding conspiracy theories about aliens. POV shots are tricky. As Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” suggested, POV shots elevate musicals. Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” suggested that POV shots elevate UFO movies. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, Lanthimos captures tensions conspiracy theorists are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Bugonia” that merits appreciation is the production. Evoking John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place”, Lanthimos effectively uses basements to capture the tensions alienated women face. Throughout the movie, Teddy’s basement serves as a crucial location capturing his strong bond with an alien woman. For instance, the basement setting elevates the alien abduction scene. During this intense scene, Teddy forms a strong bond with Michelle while holding her captive in his basement. It reminded me of my strong bond with a girl that appreciated movies about aliens being abducted that left her affected. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Jerskin Fendrix’s commemorated music contributes towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that aliens bear. Through stunning production, Lanthimos creates a compelling portrait of an alien invasion.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Bugonia” is a science-fiction film that’s compelling. In Hollywood, most alien movies rarely portray extra-terrestrial creatures with humanity. Aliens are often portrayed as scary creatures without empathy that threaten humanity. For instance, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs” depicted farming families noticing signs of aliens causing declines. Thankfully, though, “Bugonia” avoids these pitfalls. Evoking “Poor Things”, Lanthimos effectively uses silence to capture women facing misunderstandings. For instance, silence elevates the argument scene. During this unforgettable scene, Teddy has arguments with Michelle after discovering secrets about her alien identity. It reminded me of my conflicted relationship with a companion that ended when I discovered her sexual identity that left me affected. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. Scott Derrickson’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” suggested that silence elevates classic alien invasion movies. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Lanthimos captures alien invasions with a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Emma Stone delivers one of her best career performances as Michelle. Stone earned praise for playing teens in YA movies. With “Bugonia”, however, she took on her most complex role. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. Evoking Carey Mulligan in Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman”, Stone embodies a promising young woman seeking to overcome tension. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and rebellious spirit of a woman battling aliens. It’s a superb performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
While the movie is a showcase for Emma Stone, the supporting cast is also sensational and worthy of appreciation. Jesse Plemons is powerful, capturing tensions faced by a conspiracy theorist that hatches extraordinary plans to abduct aliens. Aidan Delbis is fantastic, bringing comic relief to the movie as a captor that struggles to cope with an abduction that’s tragic. Lastly, Alicia Silverstone merits recognition. As Teddy’s terminally ill mother, she is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Bugonia” can’t quite capture the experiences of alienated women that face trauma. Lanthimos’ decision to integrate subplots about police officers into the movie is bold but it hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Teddy’s small interactions with police officers aren’t as engaging as his abduction experience. As Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.” suggested, subplots about cops elevate commemorated alien invasion movies. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an ambiguous conclusion without satisfying resolution. Whereas this ambiguous ending elevated Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival”, it clashes with the realistic tone of this movie. The greatest alien movies thrive based on quality of strong conclusions, and in this regard “Bugonia” falls short of expectations.
Nevertheless, fans of Emma Stone will definitely enjoy “Bugonia” and so would movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A spectacular science-fiction satire, it proves stories of aliens are worth telling in movies audiences admire.
A powerful portrait of alien women that are abducted by conspiracy theorists that are conflicted, it’s a breathtaking reminder that extra-terrestrial creatures deserve to be depicted in movies audiences have always appreciated.
As strong as Michelle’s desires to escape captivity, it has motivated me to move on many years after parting way with a queer girl that embraced her sexual identity whose long-lasting obsession with classic science-fiction movies about extra-terrestrial aliens inspired me to turn my lifelong dream of film criticism into reality.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 