The word “bugonia” comes from the Greek language and refers to an ancient Mediterranean belief regarding how bees can spontaneously generate from the remains of dead animals. Variations on the ritual can be found, but the general idea remains consistent throughout history. Bees have forever been an important part of a society due to their role in pollenating crops and maintaining a food supply. These tireless workers play a large and critical role in keeping the planet, you know, operational. If the bees were to go away and fall victim to things such as colony collapse disorder, what would happen? Would society crumble with the sudden shock to the food supply or would large corporations step in, engineer, and further control the food supply? These questions weigh heavy in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film, “Bugonia”. Lanthimos channels a seemingly potent supply of anger at modern society in “Bugonia” while also harnessing two fantastic performances from the film’s lead actors.

“Bugonia” centers on the actions of and beliefs of Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons), a beekeeper who has fallen deep down the well of internet conspiracy theories. His obsession is with Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the CEO of Auxolith, a major pharmaceutical company and Teddy’s employer. Teddy is not just obsessed with Michelle because Teddy’s now comatose mother was a test case for a failed Auxolith drug, but because Teddy is fully convinced Michelle is an alien invader from Andromeda. Teddy has “done his research” and believes Michelle’s purpose on Earth is to wreck the planet, which includes killing off the bees. With the help of his neurodivergent cousin Don (Aiden Delbis), Teddy abducts Michelle in an attempt to get her to admit her true nature and accept a meeting with the Andromedan mothership orbiting Earth. This abduction includes shaving Michelle’s head and implementing torture when needed. Michelle, on the other hand, uses all of her training and intelligence to try and turn the tables on Teddy’s plan and show him he is incredibly misguided and ill-informed. 

The strength of “Bugonia” lies in the performances of Plemons and Stone, and the tense interactions between their strong willed characters. Plemons plays Teddy with such a sense of confidence in his actions, no matter how bizarre, twisted, and violent they become. He is someone who knows he is smarter than his humble and rural upbringing, and an Andromedan posing as a CEO is not going to be able to convince him otherwise. Teddy’s life is full of tragedy, which includes his mother’s medical conditions and a lingering history of sexual abuse at the hands of a babysitter turned sheriff’s deputy (Stavros Halkias). Early in the film, Teddy flat out tells Don that no one cares about them. They are the people who fall through the cracks and are easily influenced by the allures of internet conspiracy theories. Lanthimos has no real sympathy for people like Teddy even though the film might go in ways one would think endorses his world view and show he has a point. To Lanthimos, Teddy is ultimately a gullible fool and easy to suggestion. Teddy might seem strong at first, but he can be broken by someone like Michelle.

As for Michelle, Stone seems to relish her opportunity in playing a powerful girl boss type. There is such a confidence and directness in every word Stone utters as Michelle while she tries to navigate the situation Teddy has created. Michelle is the type of person who is quick to tell workers that due to a new policy they can leave at 5:30 P.M. but immediately comes up with all sorts of passive aggressive reasons why they should keep working. Comments like these or ones to Teddy’s face, as seen during a flashback regarding his mother’s medical condition, are always done with a smile as sterile as Michelle’s home and office setting. It is all an act for her. When Michelle is abducted, she immediately begins to process the situation and lay out a course of action for Teddy and Don to consider even though she is the prisoner. Michelle is a woman who is used to having control over a situation or being able to quickly exert control over a situation, especially if that situation involves simple folk like Teddy and Don. Just like with Teddy, Lanthimos shows his contempt for people like Michelle. He relishes the opportunity to expose the hypocrisy and artificial facade these executive types present as they wreck the planet with their “lofty” goals”.  Stone does an amazing job of bringing Lanthimos’ disdain for these type of people to life with her turn as Michelle. Whether it’s the tone of her voice or a subtle glance while Teddy is explaining his views, Stone captivates the audience with her thoroughly committed performance.

This battle of wills between Teddy and Michelle ebbs and flows through equally humorous and incredibly dark exchanges. Teddy tortures Michelle, and Michelle increasingly adapts her methods of trying to break Teddy’s will. All of this comes to a head in the film’s chaotic final act where Lanthimos lays bare his true feelings about everything. The ending will most likely prove to be incredibly polarizing with some finding the absurd humor and others finding a rather different emotional response. Whatever your feelings might be, it’s clear Lanthimos is letting his emotions take a swing with the ultimate results of the film. It is a swing that might not exactly clear the fence but still goes a distance. “Bugonia” is a film rooted in anger, not only for the loss of the bees but for many other things that have been done to the planet. Lanthimos uses the anger he has for what people like Teddy and Michelle have done and gives us a rather entertaining but stark piece of filmmaking. 

This review is part of my Now Playing series showcasing new releases I watched in a theater setting.

Bugonia
(Yorgos Lanthimos, 2025)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️