By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Aidan Delbis | Alicia Silverstone | Emma Stone | J. Carmen Galindez Barrera | Jesse Plemons
Year: 2025
Running time: 118
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12300742/
Diane says: “Lanthimos’ latest, about bee colony collapse (if you believe that…), is a remake of the Korean black comedy/horror SAVE THE GREEN PLANET. And it’s very good, but not for me. I don’t like having all my muscles clenched and my stress regulators on high alert for an hour.
“Apiarist Teddy (Jessie Plemons) is clearly mentally ill–as in Internet-echo-chamber-deranged–and takes out his paranoia on a pharmaceuticals exec (Emma Stone). Hilarity ensues, along with plenty of gore, with backstory piling on backstory, and some really out-there plot twists. Here, unlike other films I’ve recently reviewed, bombastic strains of orchestral music provide the perfect ironic counterpoint to what Teddy is up to. Production design is excellent.
“I finally regrouped during the closing scenes, which had a very different tone of pathos. They could stand alone as a sobering reflection of humanity in all its goodness and excess. 4 cats.
“Seen at Telluride by the Sea, Portsmouth, NH.”
Julia says: “Funny that Diana said ‘it’s not for me’ and Laks loved and both gave a 4. I also give it a 4. It was disturbing (no surprise) which accounts for most of the -1 cat I suppose, and I agreed with many things Diana said both good and bad. It was a stressful watch, very hard to watch (as usual for Lanthimos). Use of music was fantastic as was prod design and Emma and Jessie were at the top of their game (as usual and as expected). I loved the verbal sparring between them and their interactions with Don played by Aidan Delbis were also fantastic. I loved the juxtaposition of all types of people, architecture and possessions that were displayed. Lost of black humor which I enjoyed. Many layers and details, down to the trademark red soles of her pricey Christian Loubitan shoes. 4 cats for me“
Val says: “I very much enjoyed Bugonia, specifically Lanthimos’ stylistic play around the films’ core themes of reality and lies, conspiracy and truth. The flashbacks that you’re sure are part of Jesse Plemmons’ troubled psyche until suddenly you think they might have been accurate depictions, interstitials with flat earth, mundane small-town interactions amidst an inter-galactic struggle (maybe?), the over-the-top wealth of Emma Stone vs. the squalor of the farmhouse. Lots of play, lots to look at, lots of misdirection. It took me on a ride that I didn’t sign up for but I loved every minute.
“Laks pointed out to me that Jang Joon-hwan was a co-writer on BUGONIA! And it struck me that the final speech might be identical to the original.
I could ave done without a couple of the character history details and might have dialed up the silliness and camp to match the original a bit more, but I give it a rousing 4.5 Cats!”
Michael says: “Ah, Yorgos, what has happened to you? I really, really disliked this film. I found it silly and stupid, with all sorts of contrivances to move the plot along. Sigh. I guess I’m the naysayer here. 1 1/2 cats“
