Bugonia – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Bugonia – Honey of Lies / Stings of Truth

In a world of the unknown, what is there to believe?  From everyday occurrences to the oddities that may be, looking at life becomes a matter of perspective.  Every bit builds upon our own psyche, leading to pleasures and pains of a journey filled story.  For film, creative perspectives can be a risk, but if done right, it can be an unforgettable experience.  In this review, I look at the latest unique drama to hit the big screen.  In an adaptation through the obscure, Bugonia becomes a retrospective buzz of truths, lies and life.

When conspiracies and reality collide, individuals will face certain truths or fall prey to an otherworldly fate.  Storytelling is a matter of creative thoughts meshing with a journey’s grip.  That combo pulls a filmmaker into a unique perspective, allowing for a true artist to shine.  With this film, the storytellers tackle an adaptation that blends realism with surrealist ideals, creating a dynamic of unforgettable moments.  In the beginning, we are introduced to two cousins, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis).  Through conversational scenes, we learn that Teddy becomes enamored by certain online conspiracy theories.  These online theories lead him to believe that Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the CEO of Auxolith, is actually an alien.  These unorthodox thoughts lead him to formulate a plan with Don to kidnap the CEO in hopes of using her as a bargaining chip to save Earth from her alien race (plot point).  Once she is kidnapped, the journey becomes a methodical threading of characterized moments that puts unique point-of-views of life, morality and truths on full display.  Through dialogue of attrition between captive and captor, the outwitting becomes a dynamic clash of reality.  Each conversation becomes an emotional draw that highlights the strong acting from Plemons and Stone.  As more and more revelations come about, questions of good and bad become a hazy line of personal perspective.  As an obvious line is drawn, we begin to question who is really in the right.  Is it the captor or captive?

As the question of morality comes to the forefront, a complexity of familial and realistic themes comes into play.  As more dominos fall, the tension starts to fracture the mental state of our main characters.  This leads to an unavoidable third act that will have the audience wondering, was it worth it all in the end?  Bugonia is a creative journey of where truth and lies can be, one in the same.  If you are a fan of creative storytelling and character films, this is one for you.  I think, with an open mind, this can be a fun experience at the theaters.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)