Bugonia Movie Review: A Deep Dive into the Disappointment of ‘Worst Contact’ at the London Film Festival 2025 – FlickFilosopher.com

How far would you go to save humanity? Would you kidnap a powerful CEO of a biotech company because you believe she’s an alien? That’s the quirky premise of Bugonia, where Teddy (Jesse Plemons) does just that, whisking Michelle (Emma Stone) away to his basement hideout with the help of his misguided cousin, Donny (Aidan Delbis). In a humorous twist, they even shave her head to cut her off from her supposed alien connections. It’s all about messy negotiations and a struggle for understanding.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, known for his unconventional storytelling, Bugonia dances between dark comedy and social commentary. Recent films by Lanthimos, like Poor Things, have explored similar themes, but this film feels more accessible to a wider audience. The screenplay, adapted from Jang Joon-hwan’s Save the Green Planet!, balances the absurd with moments of honest emotion.

At the start, you might not sympathize much with Michelle. She comes off as cold and robotic, throwing herself into corporate diversity rhetoric while managing a rigid fitness routine. Yet, the film nudges you to reflect on how wealthy power players can feel alien themselves.

Teddy, on the other hand, is deeply troubled. His obsessive thoughts about aliens stem from personal pain, including his frustrating job packaging goods for Michelle’s company. This dynamic raises questions: Is he justified in his actions? How much empathy do we owe someone driven to these extremes by trauma?

The term “Bugonia” itself holds historical significance. It references an ancient belief that bees emerged spontaneously from decomposing carcasses. This metaphor resonates throughout the film, suggesting that growth can come from decay—much like how Teddy’s delusions might highlight underlying issues in society.

As the story unfolds, it points to modern challenges such as colony collapse disorder, where bee populations are mysteriously declining. Teddy’s misguided belief that aliens are to blame reflects a common human tendency to seek external scapegoats.

In the end, Bugonia leaves us with a haunting message: humanity often finds comfort in conspiracy theories, preferring to blame outside forces rather than confront our own complicity in environmental and social issues.

Lanthimos invites us to re-evaluate our perceptions of authority and responsibility, making Bugonia not just a peculiar story but a mirror reflecting our modern societal dilemmas.

For more insights on the relationship between humanity and conspiracy theories, check out this report on public perceptions about environmental issues from the Pew Research Center.

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