Bugonia Review: Emma Stone Is Perfect in This Sci-Fi Comedy Remake

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Yorgos Lanthimos has become known as a master of unconventional filmmaking. He’s had consistent success with darkly humorous and bizarre comedies like The Lobster, The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness, establishing a unique style in Hollywood. He’s now directing a remake of the 2003 Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan, a project that’s been in development for years. The film tackles relevant issues but does so in a surprising and thought-provoking way.

Teddy Gatz, a quirky beekeeper who believes in conspiracy theories, is on a mission to save the world. After his mother falls into a coma, he becomes convinced that Michelle Fuller, a powerful pharmaceutical CEO (played by Emma Stone), is an alien intent on harming Earth by exploiting its resources. With the help of his devoted younger cousin, Don, who sees the world differently, Teddy kidnaps Michelle and holds her captive. He gives her what he believes is appropriate treatment for her alien species, even shaving her head. They plan to wait for a lunar eclipse, hoping Michelle will use it to call for a spaceship, but things quickly go awry.

Yorgos Lanthimos Breathes New Life Into One of Korea’s Most Devastating Black Comedies

A remake of Save the Green Planet! had been planned for some time. Originally, director Jang was going to return, but in 2024, Yorgos Lanthimos took over. Lanthimos was fresh off the successes of Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness. While Jang is a capable director, Lanthimos was the right choice to revive this unique and darkly funny classic for a new audience, even with some updates and a move to a Western setting. The new film, Bugonia, follows the original plot fairly closely, though some characters were cut, the CEO’s gender was changed, and certain details were softened or removed, shifting the story to the United States. However, Lanthimos’s distinct style is very different from Jang’s, giving this already strange story a new feel. Combined with a script by Will Tracy, production involvement from Ari Aster, and Lanthimos’s signature quirks, Bugonia feels fresh and original, even though it remains true to the spirit of Jang’s original film.

Bugonia is a relentlessly dark story populated by deeply flawed and self-justifying characters. Almost everyone is either corrupt or a helpless pawn in a larger, inescapable system. Even well-intentioned characters, like the nature-loving conspiracy theorist Teddy, are cruel and hypocritical. Michelle Fuller, the powerful CEO who may be an alien, is arrogant and critical, but also points out some uncomfortable truths about humanity. There are very few morally gray areas – most characters are simply good or bad. The story ultimately unfolds as a surprisingly funny and elaborate joke, finishing with some truly striking visuals. Despite its darkness, Bugonia is genuinely hilarious.

Newcomer Aidan Delbis Holds His Own Alongside Superstars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons

Emma Stone has consistently shown her range as an actress, and she delivers another compelling performance as the lead in this film. With her striking features and distinctive style, she perfectly embodies a character who is unsettling, unlikeable, yet strangely captivating – a powerful executive with questionable motives. However, the film isn’t solely Stone’s showcase. Jesse Plemons gives what is arguably his best performance yet. His character, Teddy, is complex and fascinating – at times sympathetic, pathetic, even admirable, but also deeply unsettling and repulsive. Plemons masterfully portrays a whirlwind of extreme emotions with a uniquely grounded and creepy demeanor. This creates a compelling dynamic alongside Stone’s cold and superior performance – a true clash of values where no one emerges as the ‘good guy’. Ultimately, both actors clearly enjoy bringing the director’s quirky vision to life, and the audience is equally captivated.

Aidan Delbis is a standout as Don, Teddy’s gentle and innocent cousin. Delbis, who is autistic, portrays the similarly autistic Don with impressive naturalness. He brings a genuine quality to the role through his delivery, movements, and subtle expressions, making Don a surprisingly grounded and moral center in a very dark and cynical world. His style of acting—and his own neurodiversity—perfectly complements director Yorgos Lanthimos’s unique, quirky approach. Despite acting alongside seasoned performers, Delbis never feels overshadowed; he shines as a distinctly odd character amongst others who are equally strange. His straightforward mannerisms are particularly effective given that the other characters speak in Lanthimos’s signature, stylized language. Delbis’s innocence and strong on-screen connection with Jesse Plemons make the film’s humor land brilliantly, and later, amplify its disturbing moments. Lanthimos should definitely work with him again.

Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone, though in smaller roles, both deliver strong performances. Halkias, a practiced comedian, brings a uniquely unsettling and awkward energy to his character, Casey – a former babysitter who feels like a warped version of someone from a perfect, idealized town. The film is full of strange and unsettling people, and that’s intentional. It’s darkly funny, and the filmmakers are clearly in on the joke.

The World of Bugonia Is Bright, Colorful, and Cheerfully Cruel

Black comedy is a tricky genre, especially when dealing with dark or serious topics. What makes Bugonia succeed – like other good black comedies – is its willingness to avoid being preachy or taking sides. It’s intentionally silly and over-the-top, even while exploring complex issues, and presents both flawed and reasonable viewpoints from every perspective. In a way, black comedy demands – and rewards – a thoughtful and emotionally aware audience. Bugonia doesn’t offer easy answers, and it doesn’t try to decide who’s ‘right’ in the end – and that’s precisely what makes it work.

The film lets the comedy happen naturally, without pushing any particular message or forcing the audience to choose sides. It’s pure entertainment – a chance to enjoy the bizarre and often unsettling dialogue and performances of the cast, including Stone and Plemons. In that way, Bugonia doesn’t just remake Save the Green Planet!; it also pays tribute to Dr. Strangelove. The parallels are striking: both films feature characters across the political spectrum behaving foolishly while facing a potential global catastrophe.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ direction and Tony McNamara’s screenplay skillfully balance humor and lightheartedness even amidst violence, a sense of impending disaster, and general discomfort. But the film’s true strength lies in its visual and auditory presentation. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan creates a world of rich, earthy tones and striking contrasts. The home shared by Teddy and Don—a cozy, cluttered farmhouse overlooking the countryside—is warm and inviting, filled with yellows and natural colors. In contrast, Fuller’s world—her modern mansion, sleek car, and pharmaceutical offices—is cold, sterile, and visually imposing, all dark colors and polished surfaces. Her routines within these spaces are rigidly controlled, and this stark contrast is intentional.

The film’s visuals – its detailed sets and grand camera work – combine with quick, focused editing and a deliberately dramatic score to create a feeling that things aren’t quite right. While the world looks familiar, it’s actually a distorted, almost comical version of our own. This distance allows us to find humor in the characters’ struggles, even when those struggles are unsettling.

Bugonia is a bizarre, unsettling, and often ridiculous film. While it cleverly critiques today’s social and political issues, it’s also delightfully quirky and feels timeless. The performances from Stone, Plemons, and Delbis are wonderfully strange, making them the ideal cast to revisit a hidden gem of Korean comedy. Director Lanthimos continues to deliver strong films, and Bugonia is a standout even in a year filled with unique autumn releases.

Bugonia hits theaters for limited release on October 24 and wide release on October 31.

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2025-10-25 06:41