Yorgos Lanthimos’ sees unsettling drama, torture, and cruelty as a ripe place for comedy. He relishes in awkward exchanges. Nothing that transpires in his film ever goes smoothly. There is also a power struggle at the core of his works. He looks for ways to show the ridiculousness of horrid events. It might be the foundation to all his works- bad things happening to people can be funny, especially if they are fighting for control. The classic fable, a person’s tragedy is another kind of humor. “Bunogia” the third film of his to feature Emma Stone and just might be the most outlandish collaboration they have done together while seemingly being the most-plausible. Two rural, borderline poverty men believe a CEO of a large company is actually an alien controlling humans.

The film is a traditional, fork in the road storytelling. Are the men wrong with their conspiracy theory or are they really the only ones who have figured out the truth. The danger with fork-in-road stories is that once you view the film and know which side it takes, are there any redeemable measures to return to view or discuss the film anymore after the big reveal. My view is no.  Bugonia is a solid good film no doubt, and for many that already appreciate Yorgos’ film will adore it, but Bugonia only shines when we don’t know which way it will go, a flaw with this archetypal storytelling.  The tension of the kidnapping is palpable, and each character is flushed out and deeply flawed. But once the reveal is shown the film has to go over ridicules to maintain the interest. 

The acting in this cannot be over stated, it is outstanding. This is the film for Jesse Plemons to emerge not just an actor but a leading star. Emma Stone is cementing her place. Bugonia is definitely not the strongest of Yorgos’ films or won’t be the most celebrated but it is solid although it is his most flawed based on the trappings of its story that it really couldn’t go one way if it was a Lanthimos’ film which leads to a slight predictable ending. 

 “Bugonia” probably won’t be remembered much after awhile, it is kinda forgettable in areas. There are spots in this that are fantastic that remind you it is the same director of “The Favorite” and “Poor Things”, but it just can’t sustain.  It falls on its own trappings of storytelling. “Bugonia” is probably the most self aware of ridiculousness film that Yorgos ever made. That even if it is true or not that aliens actually are real and are controlling humans it still will be ridiculous either way.  7/10