Conspiracy theories. Predictions of an apocalypse. Alien invaders. Though common themes in today’s society and its movies, these three don’t usually come in the same package. But if you are trying to shine a light on the dark side of our world, they do fit together.
Conspiracy theories are rampant on the Internet, often supported by “research” and “testimonies” of witnesses. As climate change ramps up the destruction of our environment and with it what humans have built, as species disappear and deadly viruses spread through the populations, the idea that we are headed for the end of the world does not seem impossible. For example, the bees are dying and they pollinate one-third of the world’s food supply.
Could aliens be behind all this? Well, why not? And are they here to help or to take over?
Bugonia takes on all three themes in a wild and weird story typical of the work of director Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Lobster, Dogtooth, The Favourite). Jesse Plemons stars as Teddy, who as the film opens, is teaching his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) how they are going to save the world.
Don is a little slow but he adores his cousin and will do anything he asks. Jesse has researched on the Internet and concluded that the Andromedans from outer space are taking over the world. He wants to capture one of them to contact their mother ship during an upcoming lunar eclipse so he can negotiate with their leader.
Their alien target is Michelle Fuller, the C.E.O. of Auxolith, a company that manufactures drugs and pesticides. Jesse blames her for the fact that his mother is in a coma after being part of a clinical trial of one of Michelle’s company’s drugs. Further, as a beekeeper himself, he is upset about colony collapse caused by her pesticides. He and Don grab her from outside her house, sedate her, and chain her up in the basement of their farmhouse. They shave her head so she can’t contact the mother ship through it.
From there the film becomes a duel between the obviously obsessed, traumatized, and mentally ill Jesse and the cool and calculating corporate executive Michelle. She goes back and forth on his question of whether she is an alien and tries to convince the two men that letting her go is their best option.
There’s no need to share any more details about the story and the surprise twist at the end. It’s enough to note that whereas the whole scenario seems excessive (with plenty of blood and gore), its premise – that the world is in danger from beliefs coming from three directions – holds true, no matter what happens.