Bugonia

What's going on here?

Movie: Bugonia

Running Time: 1:59

Nominated for: Best Picture, Leading Actress, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay

How I watched: AMC

When it had me: The Trailer

When it lost me: Abuse of the vulnerable

What systems does it challenge: Conspiracies, Revenge

I have not been looking forward to reviewing this movie.

Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons and Aidan Delbis put in fantastic performances in this very wild movie. The latter two believe that Emma is an alien and must be stopped at all costs. So there is an attack and kidnapping and a whole lot of crazy in service of that goal.

This movie is classified as a comedy/sci-fi. The trailer looked like events would be absurd and silly and very funny but that was not my experience of the movie. I read one review that stated it was listed as a thriller at their theatre. Which has got me curious again, who makes the official call? What did Lanthimos want us to see it as? 

There is a vulnerable character who suffers manipulation, abuse and ultimately harm and it shook me. I couldn't square that with the idea of this being a comedy. I'm trying to figure out if I went in thinking it was a horror film if I would have been able to withstand the brutality of the film. But specifically envisioning the director laughing about certain events made me feel really uncomfortable; like when a party gets too raucous or a boss starts telling racist jokes. I was no longer in a safe space and I just wanted out.

All of the elements are top notch. It's shot beautifully, it's paced well, it sounds and looks like the work of a director at the top of his game. I have no complaints with the film making in that sense.

The movie is so completely out of pocket that it should have been fun for me. I can't exactly pin down what I think the message is here. We're definitely getting a warning about conspiracy theories but it also feels like there is more to it. The genius is lost on me but it certainly has gotten through to most viewers better than it did for me. I'm glad it's been an enjoyable experience for so many.