The Menu by Seth Reiss & Will Tracy

Bugonia by Will Tracy

It’s interesting how the entire ten and a half page opener can be considered one scene, even though it skips from location to location, using voice over occasionally as a transition. This allows for a build up towards the statement of the setup want, which is dropped, as it almost never is, in the action on p.11. So good.

Bugonia directed by Yorgos Lanthimos is a strange film starring Emma Stone as Michelle, a CEO who is kidnapped by someone who works for her. Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, the kidnapper along with his cousin, accusing her of being an alien. Written by Will Tracy, this isn't easy to watch. It introduces an autistic actor named Aidan Delbis as Teddy's Cousin Don who has never acted before. Not to ruin the film, but there is a tough scene with him, as he is the most endearing character. As always, Lanthimos challenges us to see the world in a different light...

I expected this movie to focus on whether Michelle is an actual alien or not, but it turned out to be much more than that. I haven't seen the original film, so I don't know how similar they are, but the topics and ideas explored in this version feel incredibly timely, with the whole thing about conspiracy theories. (I must admit I'm not entirely sold on the ending, though). Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons prove to be an electrifying leading duo that keeps you glued to the screen, and Aidan Delbis' performance is also pitch-perfect. The film is as visually stunning as we've come to expect from Yorgos Lanthimos' work, and the score plays a key part in building the atmosphere. Overall, Bugonia serves up an unpredictable piece of entertainment.

BUGONIA (2025) | dir. Yorgos Lanthimos 

Bugonia by Will Tracy