‘Bugonia’ is abuzz with conspiracy and comedy Bald Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos reunite to serve shaven sci-fi Zoe Sutton , Arts Columnist (movie reviewer) • November 13, 2025 Skylar Savarin Everyone knows someone who’s listened to one podcast too many and now believes in aliens, right? Or at least everyone will after watching “Bugonia.” This new film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, follows his tradition of absurd comedy and suspense, this time with a plot a little closer to home. Having seen his other collaborations with Emma Stone, I was excited to see “Bugonia,” and it did not disappoint. “Bugonia” follows conspiracy theorist Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis), who are set on a mission to save the planet from corruption by an alien species, the Andromedans. One of those suspected aliens is Michelle Fuller (Stone), the high-profile CEO of a pharmaceutical company. The cousins kidnap her, and Teddy tries to convince Michelle to grant him an audience with the Andromedan leaders, all in the hopes of convincing them to leave Earth. This film is blessed with amazing acting from the leads, Plemons and Stone. They are both able to flesh out their complicated characters within only a short period of seeing them. Plemons, playing someone with such conviction, brings incredible seriousness to a role that the audience could easily view in a ridiculous light. Stone does the same, perfectly projecting as an awkward “girlboss she-EO” wrestling for power. For Lanthimos, “Bugonia” is both a welcome return to his absurdist comedic thrillers and a turn to a more grounded reality, even with such a silly premise. While the new Lanthimos and Stone collaboration evokes the same sense of confusion and amazement as “Poor Things” and “Kinds of Kindness,” “Bugonia” has a more realistic edge and plot. The plot of a conspiracy theorist going after a prominent CEO feels very possible. SPOILERS AHEAD This semi-realism lends itself to the seamless blend of suspense and humor. Because of the absurdity of Teddy’s claims, his convicted message and actions can easily become comical, especially in relation to outside characters. In one moment, Teddy has on his powerful act, interrogating Michelle, and things appear worrying. The next, a cop and childhood friend of Teddy’s (Stravos Halkias), is knocking on his door. Not to arrest him for the kidnapping, but to check in and eat a slice of cake. The score only elevates this ridiculousness. I found that in scenes where Teddy was feeling his most powerful, this intense, sci-fi sound would come in, pushing that idea until it became ironic. Later, I found out that the score was created by composer Jerskin Fendrix, without having known anything about the film . Lanthimos, to continue the theme of conspiracy, told Fendrix to compose the score based on only three words: bees, basement and spaceship. These make sense if you’ve seen the film, but the mystery gave the score an interesting tone I could feel in the theater. Mystery and conspiracy continue to be prevalent as people look for a way to explain their suffering, as is the case for Teddy. Obviously, Teddy kidnapping Michelle is an extreme measure, but it’s out of concern for Earth, as he believes she is harming it. Michelle’s company was linked as a producer of pesticides that possibly cause colony collapse disorder in beehives, affecting the environment and Teddy as a beekeeper. I appreciated how “Bugonia” shows the ways Teddy and Michelle’s stories have been weaved together over time. Michelle, whether or not she is an alien, is also disconnected from reality. Before being kidnapped, we see Michelle celebrating a company-wide push for a healthy work-life balance while contradictorily reiterating that the work must be done no matter what. She has a trainer come to her luxurious home, does strange, expensive skincare and directs her own interview highlighting her company. Through this, it’s clear Michelle’s wealth and status alienate her from the people around her. Teddy and Michelle both think they’re helping the world but, in a way, they’re doing the opposite. Although greed and conspiracy are very human feelings, they can alienate people to no longer understand what is best for humanity. “Bugonia” captures this distrust in others unlike any film I’ve ever seen and is a perfect watch for those who are a little out there themselves. View Story Comments Source: https://trinitonian.com/2025/11/13/bugonia-is-abuzz-with-conspiracy-and-comedy/