Parents' Guide to Bugonia

This twisted, genre-bending reimagining will delight some viewers but leave others baffled. Bugonia's brilliant cast delivers strong performances, led by Lanthimos regulars Plemons and Stone—this film marks Stone's fourth collaboration with the Greek filmmaker. Newcomer Delbis, meanwhile, brings much-needed emotional depth to the absurdist story as the timid and sympathetic Don. While Bugonia isn't among the best in Lanthimos' filmography, it stays largely faithful to the 2003 South Korean original, though it swaps the genders of the CEO and assistant characters. And Plemons plays the paranoid protagonist with more intensity (and less humor) than Shin Ha-kyun did in the earlier film.

All of which is not to say that the movie lacks Lanthimos' signature dark comedy. There are moments of both intentional and nervous laughter as viewers react to the discomfort on-screen. The story centers on morally gray characters, with the possible exception of Don, who is emotionally manipulated and simply wants to please his cousin after their shared trauma. Screenwriter Will Tracy (The Menu, Succession) taps into timely anti-capitalist themes that expose the greed and corruption at both corporate and personal levels. Stone's Michelle is such a cold, calculating villain that it's often easier to sympathize with her unstable captors than with her. Still, even for those unfamiliar with the original film, the ending feels telegraphed. Some viewers may walk away wondering, "What did we just watch?" while others, particularly Lanthimos devotees, will admire its cleverness. Ultimately, despite stellar performances and striking visuals, Bugonia is uneven in tone, screenplay, and execution. But it's so outlandish that it will stay with you long after the credits roll.