Bugonia
Lanthimos does corporate conspiracy sci-fi with his usual awkward dialogue style
The brief
Lanthimos takes his signature deadpan absurdism and applies it to sci-fi paranoia, creating something that feels like "The Lobster" meets "They Live" but weirder. Stone and Plemons lean hard into the director's stilted dialogue style, delivering conspiracy theories and corporate speak with the same flat affect that makes you question what's real. The pacing deliberately frustrates you in the best way, building tension through awkward silences and off-kilter conversations rather than traditional thriller beats. Perfect for anyone who loved the uncomfortable comedy of "The Favourite" or enjoys films that make you feel slightly unhinged by the end credits.
The verdict
If you crave Lanthimos's bizarre blend of deadpan comedy and existential dread, this sci-fi paranoia trip delivers his most unsettling work yet with Stone and Plemons perfectly executing his signature stilted dialogue style. If you need straightforward storytelling or get frustrated by deliberately awkward pacing and uncomfortable silences, this will feel like a pretentious endurance test rather than entertainment.
Watch with
- 👥 Friends who appreciate weird arthouse films
- ⚠️ Skip if you need straightforward storytelling
Heads up
- Kidnapping and implied threats (moderate)
- Psychological manipulation themes (moderate)
- Corporate violence implications (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Cast
- Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone, J. Carmen Galindez Barrera, Marc T. Lewis
Official synopsis
Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Both explore paranoid protagonists trapped in surreal nightmare scenarios.
Total runtime: 1h 59m + 2h 59m = 4h 58m
