Emma Stone stars as a fierce CEO who unexpectedly becomes a hostage to two men who believe she’s an alien. Even though it sounds unusual, Bugonia has become one of the most talked-about films at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The film explores how conspiracy theories and echo chambers can influence individuals in profound ways.
Rather than turning into a preachy critique of internet dangers, Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, offers a deeper narrative, with layers that reveal more than initially meets the eye. Emma Stone shares her thoughts at the film’s premiere, stating, “There’s so much happening that reflects this moment in time and our world. It’s told in a way that I found captivating, emotional, humorous, disturbing, and vibrant.”
Lanthimos and Stone have previously collaborated four times, on projects like The Favourite, Kinds of Kindness, and Poor Things. The 36-year-old actress earned her second Oscar for her performance in Poor Things. She describes her experience working with Lanthimos as a dream come true, saying, “The opportunity to work on these projects with him has been incredible, because there’s so much to explore in this material.”
While some may dislike Lanthimos’s films for their unsettling, bizarre, and graphic elements, Bugonia contains similar features. However, it might be more accessible for those who found his earlier works challenging. The film provides an intense story of abduction and offers a gripping viewing experience regardless of one’s stance on extraterrestrials.
In the story, Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. She is kidnapped by Teddy (Jesse Plemons), a troubled young man who blames her for his mother’s illness and the decline of bee populations. Teddy meticulously plans the kidnapping with his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), who is reluctant to participate. Despite Michelle’s fierce resistance, she ends up confined in Teddy’s basement, where most of the film unfolds.
Teddy believes that capturing Michelle and extracting information from her serves the greater good. Many might dismiss his beliefs as absurd, but that’s precisely the point. Nikki Baughan from Screen Daily comments that “He rants and raves a lot, but Plemons brings a significant depth to Teddy, portraying a man overwhelmed by past traumas,” adding, “We’re left to wonder whom to believe—this well-mannered, sharp-dressed woman or the eccentric, ponytailed rural outsider. But should we even question it?”
Plemons, who was nominated for an Oscar for The Power of the Dog, found Bugonia particularly compelling because it made him question his perceptions of people on society’s fringe. “There’s a common tendency to dismiss things that are frightening or difficult to understand,” he explains. “As an actor, it’s my way of trying to comprehend and connect with people and situations that are hard to grasp. Dismissing them as less than human is risky—they’re human, and they live.”
Bugonia is a loose remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 Korean sci-fi film Save the Green Planet!, though Plemons chose not to watch it beforehand, aiming to avoid influence. For her role, Emma Stone shaved her head, joking that it was straightforward—simply grabbing a razor and shaving clean.
When asked about her openness to extraterrestrial life, Stone admits that she hasn’t completely dismissed the idea. She cites her admiration for astronomer Carl Sagan, whose show Cosmos she watched avidly. “He believed that thinking we are alone in this vast universe is quite selfish,” she says, raising her hand with a playful smile. “So, yes—I believe in aliens. Thank you.”
Teddy, convinced that capturing Michelle is for the benefit of everyone, reflects the film’s complex portrayal of perceptions and beliefs. Critics like Nikki Baughan highlight Jesse Plemons’s layered performance, portraying a deeply troubled but fundamentally compassionate individual trying to navigate past traumas.
Plemons, also Oscar-nominated for The Power of the Dog, shares that Bugonia intrigued him because it challenged his assumptions about those on society’s margins. “We tend to close the door on what’s frightening or hard to understand,” he notes. “But for an actor, it’s about making sense of difficult people and experiences—recognizing their humanity and living conditions.”
The film is an indirect remake of Save the Green Planet!, but Plemons chose not to watch it to keep his interpretation authentic. Stone’s dedication was evident; she shaved her head specifically for her captors in the movie, humorously describing the task as “the easiest thing in the world—just pick up a razor.”
On the topic of aliens, Stone admits her belief isn’t entirely dismissed, influenced by her admiration for scientists like Carl Sagan. “He believed that assuming we’re alone in this universe is a kind of selfishness,” she reflects. “So, I’m going to go ahead and say it—I believe in aliens. Thank you.”
Bugonia continues to spark conversations about society, perception, and the unknown, challenging viewers to consider what lies beyond the familiar.
