Bugonia - Movie Review 

★★★★☆

By Ray Manukay

BUGONIA (2025)

★★★★☆

"A Claustrophobic Masterpiece of Tension"

By Ray Manukay

📝 Official Synopsis

Two conspiracy theorists kidnap a high-powered corporate CEO, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. As they subject her to their "interrogation," the line between delusion and reality begins to blur in a lethal battle of wits.

🎬 Cast & Crew Production

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Writer: Will Tracy

Format: 35mm / 3:2 Ratio

Studio: Focus Features / A24

🎭 Where You've Seen Them Before

Emma Stone (Michelle)

• Poor Things
• Kinds of Kindness
• The Favourite

Jesse Plemons (Teddy)

• Civil War
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Breaking Bad

Rays Review

"Bugonia is a fascinating thriller from eccentric director Yorgos Lanthimos. The film is shot in a paranoia-inducing style with a bombastic soundtrack that keeps the viewer off balance. Even some of the cinematography has an off-kilter perspective. Lanthimos shoots in a classic 35mm film, boxy 3:2 aspect ratio to contribute to the claustrophobia.

A lot of the film's tension depends on how the viewer perceives the beliefs of the Jesse Plemons character, Teddy. Is there even a fragment of truth in his extraordinary, conspiracy-tinged beliefs? We see his traumatic experiences have contributed to his fragile state of mind. Is that enough to elicit sympathy from the audience for his torture methods? That's the question the film is constantly asking.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos does an impressive job of keeping the suspense tight. The best moments in the film are the verbal sparring between Teddy and Michelle. In lesser hands, the heavy dialogue could turn tedious, but Lanthimos never allows that, keeping the visuals interesting and the drama moving.

The only thing working against Lanthimos with Bugonia is his reputation. With films like The Lobster, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness, his works usually operate in a surreal kind of reality. We expect something extraordinary in his stories. It's an element, at least for me, that I expect now from his movies—although I won't reveal if that's the case here. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop."

⚖️ Pros & Cons

PROS:

• Career-highlight performances
• Masterful use of 3:2 ratio
• Tense, high-stakes dialogue

CONS:

• Dense dialogue intensity
• High expectations due to reputation

✨ Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Remake: This is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!
• The Ratio: The boxy 3:2 aspect ratio was specifically chosen to heighten the feeling of entrapment.
• Reunion: This marks the fourth collaboration between Emma Stone and Lanthimos.

FINAL VERDICT

Bugonia is a riveting film featuring career-highlight performances from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. It is worthy of being one of the premier notable films of 2025 and deserves a definite recommendation from me.

READ THE FULL REVIEW ON LETTERBOXD