+34
A review of Bugonia, the new Lanthimos film that blends horror, satire and conspiracy theory as Emma Stone plays a kidnapped pharma CEO opposite Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delbis.
Bugonia arrives as the most high‑profile project to emerge from the collaboration between the Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos and the Hollywood star Emma Stone. The film was partly financed by the Irish production house Element Pictures and benefits from the backing of Ari Aster as producer.
It marks a second meeting of Stone with Lanthimos after their acclaimed work on Poor Things, while Oscar‑nominee Jesse Plemons returns to work with the director following Kinds of Kindness. The ensemble is rounded out by newcomer Aidan Delbis who plays Don, the autistic brother of a misguided beekeeper and conspiracy theorist. From the opening credits the movie signals a blend of unsettling humour and stark horror, a tone that has become a hallmark of Lanthimos' filmography.
The story centres on Michelle Fuller, the ruthless chief executive of a multinational pharmaceutical corporation. One evening she is snatched by Teddy Gatz, a self‑styled apiarist whose belief in hidden extraterrestrials has been inflamed by climate disaster and personal loss. Teddy enlists his younger brother Don to help hold Michelle captive in a damp basement where they shave her head in an odd ritual meant to sever her connection to an alleged alien mothership.
The kidnapping evolves into a psychological chess match as the three characters interrogate each other's motives, shifting the audience's sympathy back and forth. Teddy's theory that Earth is covertly ruled by beings from Andromeda, while absurd, is presented with a deadpan seriousness that amplifies the film's dark comic edge. Performances anchor the elaborate set‑piece.
Stone delivers a cool, enigmatic portrait of a CEO who is at once charismatic and morally detached, allowing the audience to glimpse the humanity that lies hidden beneath her corporate veneer. Plemons crackles with volatile energy, portraying Teddy as both menacing and pitiable, while Delbis conveys profound sorrow without uttering a word, making Don the quiet emotional core of the narrative. The directing style is operatic yet claustrophobic, keeping the camera tight on the actors as tension builds.
Viewers familiar with 10 Cloverfield Lane or Coherence will recognise the confined thriller format, but Bugonia raises the stakes with a $50 million budget, a roster of Oscar winners and a script that constantly repositions audience allegiance. The film's climax delivers a shocking reversal that forces each character - and the viewer - to confront a bleak assessment of humanity's trajectory.
As Lanthimos and screenwriter Tracy dive deeper into the absurdity of modern conspiracy culture, they also expose the dehumanising practices of corporate power, turning the narrative into a satire that is simultaneously unsettling and oddly uplifting. Bugonia may not fit neatly into any single genre, but its bold blend of horror, dark comedy and social critique marks it as perhaps the most mainstream yet audacious work in Lanthimos' catalogue.
For anyone tracking the evolution of contemporary cinema, the movie stands as a compelling, unsettling and oddly entertaining experience. The movie is now available for streaming on several platforms, making it one of the most talked‑about Irish‑backed releases of 2026
Bugonia Yorgos Lanthimos Emma Stone Jesse Plemons Science Fiction Thriller
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rathmines and Rathgar become film set for An Cailín Ciúin director Colm BairéadFifties drama Mary Rose, starring Zara Devlin, already attracting industry buzz
Read more »
Netflix has just added a dark new thriller with an A-list castNetflix has just released The Whisper Man, its new thriller starring Adam Scott (Hokum, Severance) and Robert De Niro (The Fan, Zero Day).
Read more »
Andy Burnham Visit to Northern IrelandBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to discuss political matters and his stance on a Border poll.
Read more »
The Renaissance of Irish Vernacular Furniture and Heritage CraftAn exploration of the renewed popularity of 18th and 19th century Irish furniture, highlighting the blend of historical functionality and modern interior design.
Read more »
Bone Tomahawk and the New Irish Thriller Nervous Highlight a Strong Weekend for Genre CinemaBone Tomahawk remains a standout Western thriller of the 21st century, now showing on television, while the new Irish psychological thriller Nervous starring Sarah Bolger has just premiered and released its first trailer.
Read more »
Elanga and Wissa strike as Newcastle extends Spurs’ miserable season startMohammed Kudus returns for Spurs after eight months out
Read more »