“Bugonia” is a darkly comic thriller from Yorgos Lanthimos that blends conspiracy paranoia with character drama and bleak sci fi ideas. The story follows Teddy and his cousin Don, two reclusive conspiracy obsessives who kidnap Michelle, the powerful CEO of pharma giant Auxolith, convinced she is an alien linked to environmental collapse and social decay. Locked in a basement, Michelle is forced into a battle of wits that gradually exposes how warped Teddy’s worldview is, while also teasing that some of his wild theories might not be entirely off base. The film shifts from offbeat captivity comedy into a brutal reflection on fanaticism, corporate power and humanity’s place in the universe, ending on a note that is both absurd and chilling. It is a stylized, often uncomfortable experience that leans into Lanthimos’ taste for moral ambiguity and tonal whiplash, which means it will definitely not work for every viewer.
At the 98th Academy Awards, “Bugonia” has secured four high profile nominations, including Best Picture, acting recognition for Emma Stone, and nods in key writing and music categories, marking it as one of the year’s major awards players.
