The kidnapping of a high profile figure isn’t an unusual plot device for a thriller. But add in an alien conspiracy, dark comedic elements and a preoccupation with bees, and the curiosity surrounding Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest release, Bugonia, begins to make more sense.
Wondering what all the buzz is about? Here are five things to know about the film.
A Lanthimos vision
If you’ve seen any of the acclaimed director’s previous works – The Lobster (2015), The Favourite (2018), and Poor Things (2023) to name just a few – you’ll know they have a distinct surreal, yet often darkly funny tone. And Bugonia is no exception.
The film follows two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a powerful CEO, convinced she’s an alien plotting to destroy the planet. The bulk of the action takes place in a claustrophobic basement, and throughout the tense hostage situation, the narrative explores a range of weighty socioeconomic, environmental and psychological themes. But in typical Yorgos Lanthimos fashion, the dialogue and visuals are also sprinkled with irreverence and absurdity.
This unpredictability – switching back and forth between the intense microcosm of the house and themes of global magnitude, as well as the characters’ shifting power dynamics and the repeated juxtaposition of horror and humour – heightens the sense of unease. It also provides a stark contrast to the kidnappers’ single-minded focus as their warped plans unfold.
