BUGONIA (2025)

BUGONIA has gotten roasted in reviews, I’ve heard. I avoided all the reviews, and haven’t seen SAVE THE GREEN PLANET, which this is apparently based on, and went in cold. I haven’t even seen any of the director’s recent films.

I really liked BUGONIA. Writer Will Tracy is a clever bastard. Jesse Plemon’s opening voiceover, talking about pollination, tells you so much about the character in these lines- “It’s like sex. But cleaner. And nobody gets hurt.” That is fucking excellent writing.

Jesse Plemons is Teddy, small town conspiracy theorist, and he and his neurodivergent Don enact the abduction of the CEO of the company he works for because he knows she’s an alien trying to destroy Earth.

People will tell you it’s a comedy. It is not.

The actor playing Don, by the way, Aidan Delbis (who self identifies as autistic), is a bit of a genius – when Teddy tells Don he’s not allowed to jerk off any more he does this thing with his hand and his face that is just brilliant.

But this is Plemons’ show. Early on there’s a scene by firelight where Plemons seems to turn into Brad Dourif, and in fact Dourif’s turn in WISE BLOOD isn’t the worst comparison. The guy who entered public consciousness as “Meth Damon” on BREAKING BAD has become one of America’s best actors. Emma Stone is fine, of course, but it’s his film from top to bottom.

I also note a small role for an unrecognisable Alicia Silverstone, who probably never imagined she’d have to say the words “your slob cunt mom” in front of a camera.

There are a few laughs. More than in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, which is now being rebranded as a comedy for awards season. But BUGONIA opened on Halloween here for a reason. It’s a horror film. A desperately sad one.

I’m sure it’s a straight adaptation from the original and all that, but, as I say, I came to the film cold.

The budget is all spent on its magnificently weird and chilling final fifteen minutes, which has scenes in it that are totally unexpected. (And I very much appreciated some of the design choices)

And the structure is circular. Again, that clever bastard Will Tracy, who wrote THE MENU, which may give you a clue to how this film feels and lands: a chamber piece. I liked THE MENU. This shares that film’s craft.

BUGONIA is bugfuck and I liked it.