Archive · 6 Nov 2025
Emma Stone Stars in Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia,' a Deranged Sci-Fi Thriller
Imagine a movie about a boss named Michelle, played by Emma Stone.
Some people who believe in crazy conspiracy theories think she's an alien trying to hurt everyone.
They kidnap her, tie her up, and shave her head, demanding she talk to her alien leaders!
It's a crazy and wild story that's also a bit scary and funny at the same time.
The director likes to make movies where characters act in strange ways and don't follow normal rules.
Even though Michelle isn't really an alien, she's very smart and business-like.
The kidnappers are also not very nice people.
The actors are really good, making their characters seem real even when they're doing weird things.
Some people think it's not the director's best movie, and it can be a little dark.
But it makes you want to keep watching to see what happens next.
Yorgos Lanthimos' new film 'Bugonia' stars Emma Stone as a pharmaceutical CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien.
The film is described as 'deranged, extreme and explosively enjoyable' and 'deliriously preposterous' yet 'uncomfortably of the moment.'
Stone plays a cunning 'corporate bot' Michelle, while Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis portray the 'disenfranchised conspiracy nuts' Teddy and Don.
Critics note that while the characters represent 'toxic typologies,' the performances elevate them beyond mere archetypes.
Though considered 'not Lanthimos' best film' and 'quite bleak,' it maintains audience engagement through its unsettling and unpredictable narrative.
- Who
- Yorgos Lanthimos (Director), Emma Stone (CEO Michelle), Jesse Plemons (Teddy), Aidan Delbis (Don)
- What
- A film about a pharmaceutical CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien.
- When
- Implied recent release; the original film was from 2003.
- Where
- Implied to be a contemporary setting, within a pharmaceuticals company and a suburban home.
- Why
- To explore themes of reality, societal norms, and conspiracy through Lanthimos' distinctive filmmaking style.
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Overall Film Quality
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Described as 'deranged, extreme and explosively enjoyable,' with a 'deliriously preposterous' storyline that is also 'uncomfortably of the moment.'
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While 'not Lanthimos' best film' and 'quite bleak,' it keeps the audience engaged due to the director's signature style of making viewers uncomfortable and curious.
Character Representation
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Characters represent 'certain toxic typologies of the zeitgeist' but are elevated beyond mere types by brilliant performances.
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The characters, including a 'cunning corporate bot' CEO and a misguided conspiracy theorist, are not particularly sympathetic, with every exchange being transactional.
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Starring
- Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis
- Genre
- Sci-Fi Thriller / Dark Comedy
- Inspiration
- Remake of a 2003 South Korean film
- Themes
- Alien conspiracy, corporate culture, societal divides, behavioral norms