The latest Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone collaboration, Bugonia, was released recently on Halloween. This is a movie I have had my eyes on because it seemed like a simple premise, but I knew it had to be weirder than the trailers were showing. Yorgos is a director I don’t have much experience with, but I know he doesn’t make straightforward mainstream movies. This story is about Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin (Aidan Delbis) believing this high-profile CEO (Emma Stone) is an alien sent here to destroy humanity. They kidnap her and hold her captive to reveal the truth.
The movie is anchored by two amazing performances. Emma Stone is amazing in everything she does, and I think she can be nominated again. This role is unlike anything she has done yet, and she fully commits to the role by shaving her head. In this movie, she is a manipulator and the smartest in the room at all times. She uses this to her advantage to get what she wants, and this is a side I like from the actress. I really believe this is one of her best performances. Jesse Plemons is also fantastic as the co-lead. Teddy believes that aliens are real and among us, but his character has also dealt with a lot of trauma. Due to this, we don’t know if he has lost his mind or if he is actually correct. He also is very well-educated, and he sees through Stone’s character, creating an interesting power dynamic.
The dynamic between Teddy and Michelle, the CEO, gives new information to the story as they try to outsmart the other one. The story kept me guessing the whole time and changing my perspective with every new reveal. There’s a very shocking moment in the movie where the whole tone shifts, and this starts an even crazier third act. It goes to places where you didn’t think it would end up going.
On a technical level, this movie is fantastic. Visually, the colors pop, and they use a different aspect ratio than the usual wide ratio. It is more of a square box to create a more claustrophobic feel. Movies like One Battle After Another and The Brutalist also used VistaVision to film, but Bugonia looks nothing like those. The score was emphatic and triumphant. It elevated many scenes, but they also used it very loudly in scenes that I didn’t think needed it, like biking down the road.
Although the story was entertaining, my only problems with the movie also come from the story. The second act of the movie felt slightly repetitive. The setup between Stone and Plemons was in the same basement and heavily dialogue-based. Most of the chaotic ending worked for me, but I had some logic questions about the end montage. These, however, did not affect my enjoyment. Lastly, there is a police officer thrown into the story who was unnecessary. He served to add tension, but his fate was very predictable.
Overall, Bugonia was such a great surprise due to the wacky nature of the story. The performances and the surprisingly funny comedy created one of my favorite movies so far this year. If this movie is received well by critics, I can see the two leads being nominated, but it really depends on how weird they find the movie. I would recommend this movie if you like Yorgos Lanthimos’s movies because it still has that same style.
Final Verdict: 4/5 (Go See In Theaters)
Junior Ranon Travers is a Staff Writer. His email is rtravers@fandm.edu.