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In 2003, South Korean filmmaker Jang Joon-hwan released the absurdist dark comedy Save the Green Planet! The film received widespread critical acclaim and won several industry awards at numerous film festivals. In 2020, CJ Entertainment announced its collaboration with Ari Aster’s Square Peg production company to produce an English-language remake. Will Tracy, best known for writing Succession and The Menu, would be adapting the script, with Jang returning to direct. However, in early 2024, reports confirmed that Yorgos Lanthimos would be replacing Jang as director with Element Pictures. On a $45- $55 million budget, principal photography began in England in July and wrapped in Atlanta in October. After some additional filming in Greece in May 2025, the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in August. Focus Features acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film, now titled Bugonia, and released it in October 2025.
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Synopsis
Local conspiracy theorist Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons) lives alone with his neurodivergent cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis). Teddy believes that a race of aliens called “Andromedans” has taken over Earth, and he’s convinced Don that they’re real. Believing her to be one, they kidnap Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the CEO of a massive pharmaceutical company. They shave her head and coat her in an antihistamine cream to supposedly prevent her from contacting her mothership. Michelle tries to reason with them to let her go, but they’re so stubborn that they keep her locked up. Soon, the police launch a massive investigation into her disappearance, leading local sheriff Casey (Stavros Halkias) to investigate. As Teddy tries to maintain control of the situation, Don begins to express doubts, especially after they torture Michelle. Will Teddy succeed in uncovering a grand conspiracy, or will Michelle escape and prove that she’s not an alien?
Review
If you’ve seen any of Yorgos Lanthimos’ previous movies, you should have an idea of what to expect here. You’ve got an absurd premise, actors at the top of their game, and a deconstruction of the world around us. While I haven’t seen Save the Green Planet, I’d like to know how this film compares to it. From what I can tell, the Korean cult movie is livelier, more colorful, and wackier than its premise. Bugonia, on the other hand, is very subdued, has a muted color scheme, and a cynical edge. Even compared to Lanthimos’ other works, this doesn’t have the visual flair and whimsy of Poor Things or The Favourite. That said, you can see his touches in the dialogue, the absurdism, the social commentary, and the shock scenes. Without spoiling it, Lanthimos’ style really kicks in during the climax, which needs to be seen to be believed.
Like in her other collaborations with Lanthimos, Emma Stone gives an outstanding performance as boss girl Michelle Fuller. Even after getting kidnapped and having her head shaved, she does her best to maintain control of the situation. Seeing her and Jesse Plemons wrestle for dominance is worth the price of admission alone, especially in their dialogue. While Stone is in command even in the face of danger, Jesse Plemons gradually crumbles as the situation gets worse. As stellar as Stone and Plemons are, the real highlight is newcomer Aidan Delbis as the well-meaning but vulnerable Don. Having a real autistic person in the role adds authenticity, and Delbis shows a genuine innocence in his performance. Despite his mental impairments, you can tell that he knows he’s being manipulated and can’t do anything about it. He shows a lot of promise here, and I’m excited to see what he does next.
Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan, another frequent Lanthimos collaborator, does an exceptional job here, adding dread to the real world. His use of VistaVision gives the film a sense of scale that makes everything seem bigger than it is. Adding to this is composer Jerskin Fendrix’s score, which adds a level of gravitas you’d expect in a major blockbuster. The music and cinematography take these small moments that seem insignificant and make them into the most important things possible. Despite its comedy label, the film is more dour and cynical than funny, though it does feature some dark humor. Also, without getting into spoilers, the ending might feel like a cop-out, but it’s typical in a Lanthimos film. At just slightly under two hours, the film is a slow burn that hooks you in until the explosive climax. Overall, Bugonia is an outstanding movie that you won’t soon forget.
Buy Bugonia from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LquWKr.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.
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Where to watch Bugonia (2025)
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