Bugonia Review: Yorgos Lanthimos Delivers His Darkest, Funniest Masterpiece Yet
Bugonia review: Yorgos Lanthimos delivers a dark, funny, and bracing thriller that hits a raw human nerve. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are electric together. The craft is razor sharp from image to score. I left the theater in awe of the film and the team behind it.
- What it is
- A 2025 absurdist black comedy thriller from Yorgos Lanthimos, adapted from the 2003 Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! (AP)
- Leads
- Emma Stone as Michelle, a pharma CEO, and Jesse Plemons as Teddy, a conspiracy-poisoned beekeeper (Focus Features)
- Music
- Score by Jerskin Fendrix, tense and thunderous (overview)
- Release
- U.S. limited Oct 24, wide Oct 31, 2025 (Focus)
Quick take
This movie gets it. It taps into fear, love, and the itch to find order in chaos. Stone is brilliant. Plemons matches her with quiet fire. The film is mean and tender at once. It is also very funny. I walked out buzzing.
Story & themes
Teddy and his cousin Don kidnap Michelle because they believe she is an alien threat. It sounds wild. Lanthimos plays it straight. The tension grows from conviction and grief, not gadgets. It is a story about belief, control, and the damage we do when we need the world to make simple sense.
It is also a timely remake. The conspiracy culture is not a backdrop. It is the engine. The script by Will Tracy threads dark humor through dread, and it works more often than not. (context)
Performances
Emma Stone
Stone plays Michelle with poise and razor wit. She never begs for sympathy, yet you track every shift in power. It is a bold turn that keeps the film unstable in the best way.
Jesse Plemons
Plemons is devastating as Teddy. He is wounded, righteous, and scarily certain. It is one of his best performances to date, and awards talk feels earned. (profile)
Related reads on the site: my Sinners review and The Monkey review for more on performance-driven genre films.
Direction & craft
It is gorgeous. Robbie Ryan’s images feel crisp and huge. Cuts are surgical. The score by Jerskin Fendrix rolls like a storm. Design and sound sell the world without shouting. Lanthimos dials back the surreal flourishes from Poor Things and aims for tight pressure and nasty laughs.
| Department | What stood out |
|---|---|
| Cinematography | Rich color and scale that lift small rooms into arenas of power |
| Editing | Builds dread with patient rhythms, then snaps |
| Score | Strings and low percussion that gnaw at your nerves |
| Production design | Cold corporate spaces vs warm clutter of belief |
Early critical response has been strong, with many praising Plemons in particular. (Rotten Tomatoes)
What worked
Pros
- Two lead performances at the top of their game
- Sharp, timely satire that still lands real emotion
- Clean visual storytelling and a killer score
- Laughs that make the dread hit harder
Considerations
- Bleak stretches may push some viewers away
- Violence and intensity can be rough
- The ending will divide audiences
Spoiler talk
Open spoiler notes
The final movement leans fully into cosmic cruelty. It fits the film’s logic and it haunted me on the drive home. If you want a detailed breakdown, Time has a solid explainer with scene specifics. (spoilers)
Verdict & rating
This is my favorite film of 2025. It is fierce, funny, and painfully human. Stone and Plemons are cinematic gold together. The team behind the camera never misses. I cannot wait to see it again.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Where to watch
Bugonia opened in the U.S. on October 24, 2025 with a wider rollout on October 31. Check your local listings and Focus Features for current showtimes and formats. (Focus)
FAQs
Is Bugonia a remake?
Yes. It adapts the Korean cult favorite Save the Green Planet! The update keeps the core premise while shifting tone and power dynamics. (AP)
Who composed the score?
Jerskin Fendrix composed the original score. It adds bite and momentum throughout key confrontations. (overview)
Is it very violent or scary?
It has intense scenes, some blood, and sustained psychological tension. It balances that with dark humor. If you are sensitive to confinement stories, take note.
Do I need to see other Lanthimos films first?
No. It is a standalone story. If you liked Poor Things or Kinds of Kindness, you will recognize his style and bite.