Bugonia

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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From the eccentric Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”) comes another showstopper of a film, based on the former Korean “Save the Green Planet!” by Jang Joon-hwan. Imagistic, colorful, and visceral, “Bugonia” is reflective, provoking, unsettling and will certainly keep you guessing.

Beekeeper Teddy (Jesse Plemons) who lives alone in a cramped house with his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) decides to kidnap the pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) head of Auxolith corporation. There are many reasons for this, but the crucial one is that (in Teddy‘s mind) Michelle’s company is responsible for Teddy‘s mother’s illness due to a bad drug. Furthermore, she is an extraterrestrial who means harm to humankind.

Michelle is well acquainted with jujitsu and combat, but Teddy and Don manage to get the Louboutin-heeled company head subdued.

The film teases the audience, but rest assured, Michelle is the keeper of secrets.

Teddy becomes increasingly flummoxed, unhinged, and bright red in the face while Michelle is remarkably composed. The film is a lampoon and a statement on toxic masculinity as well as global warming and the environment. By turns comic and apprehensive, one sees Teddy as a frustrated madcap almost on the level of Laurel & Hardy comedy. But things are not always as they appear.

The film touches on many cinematic elements from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Frankenstein” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Psycho.” The thrill is in the act of watching the apprehension involved and not knowing what will happen: the element of surprise.

As much as this film can be seen as a Gothic chiller with a bit of tongue in the cheek, it is also thoughtful. How far should our responsibility go in terms of caring for the planet and do we as human beings have ultimate control in our decisions? In addition, could we as human beings appear as alien to other, more altruistic possible forms of life?

Emma Stone is again spectacular in another Lanthimos film and Jessie Plemons is fantastic as the well-meaning Teddy, deeply emotive and vulnerable yet hapless and slapstick by turns. Aidan Delbis in a genuine performance without artifice is haunting and all absorbing.

A true Surrealist, Yorgos Lanthimos has his own symbolism, speaking for the liquidity of ideas and the geometry of dreams.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com