“Bugonia” is a dark comedy about two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a powerful CEO they believe is an alien bent on destroying Earth. It is a remake of the 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!” directed by Jang Joon-hwan. Yorgos Lanthimos directs, and Will Tracy adapted the screenplay.
Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the CEO of pharmaceutical company Auxolith. Jesse Plemons plays Teddy Gatz, a conspiracy theory-obsessed beekeeper who abducts her. Aidan Delbis plays Don, Teddy’s autistic cousin who helps with the kidnapping. Stavros Halkias plays Casey Boyd, a deputy sheriff searching for Michelle. Alicia Silverstone plays Sandy Gatz, Teddy’s mother.
The film premiered in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025. It was released in the United States by Focus Features on October 24.
Trailer, via Focus Features.
The Setup
Teddy and Don kidnap Michelle after Teddy’s mother, Sandy, became comatose from a clinical trial for an Auxolith drug. Teddy believes Michelle is an Andromedan, an alien species killing Earth’s honeybees and forcing humans into subservience. He shaves her head and covers her body in antihistamine cream to prevent a distress signal.
Michelle has four days to meet the Andromedan emperor before a lunar eclipse lets the Andromedan mothership enter Earth’s atmosphere undetected. After torturing Michelle with electricity, Teddy decides she is a high-ranking Andromedan based on her high pain tolerance.
The Dinner Scene
Teddy and Don bring Michelle upstairs for dinner. The meal turns tense, and a physical fight breaks out between Teddy and Michelle. Casey arrives, searching for Michelle. Don knocks her unconscious and chains her to the basement floor.
Teddy distracts Casey by showing him the apiary in the backyard. When Michelle wakes, she offers to help Don if he reports Teddy to the police. Don replies that he only wants to go to outer space with Michelle, then shoots himself in the head after she promises to take him. Casey hears the gunshot, and Teddy kills him with a shovel.
The Choice Behind Michelle
The original film’s lead character, Kang Man-shik, is a man. In “Bugonia,” Michelle is a woman, played by Stone. This swap was made by Ari Aster, Tracy, and Jang prior to Lanthimos’s involvement. According to Jang, it was one of the last creative decisions he was involved in before stepping down as director due to health concerns.
Stone shaved her head for the role. Plemons and Stone both received strong reviews for their performances.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Venice premiere | August 28, 2025 |
| U.S. release | October 24 |
| Additional filming | May 2025 in Milos, Greece |
The film’s tone shifts between comedy and horror. The kidnapping is absurd, but the violence is brutal. The performances carry the tension. Stone finds humor in Michelle’s frustration, while Plemons plays Teddy’s obsession with deadpan sincerity.
The Final Verdict
“Bugonia” is a confident, unsettling remake. It respects the original’s absurdity while giving it a fresh perspective. The performances are strong, especially Stone and Plemons. The film drags in its middle stretch, but the payoff is earned.
It is a strange, funny, violent film that rewards patience. It is not for everyone, but for those who can sit with its discomfort, it delivers.
Score: 7.2 of 10.
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