The Next Best Picture Podcast "Bugonia"
Nov 1, 2025
Ben Langford, a film writer and critic, joins the panel to dive into Yorgos Lanthimos's latest release, "Bugonia," exploring its dark humor and complex themes. He highlights how the film compares to its South Korean predecessor and discusses its critique of conspiracy culture and environmental issues. The conversation reveals mixed feelings on the film's tonal shifts, the effectiveness of absurd violence, and the poignant metaphor of bees. Emma Stone's standout performance and the film's visual craftsmanship receive acclaim, all culminating in a thoughtful debate on its merits and awards potential.
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Ambiguity Serves A Thematic Trap
- Begonia holds the audience in uncertainty about Michelle's nature to explore truth versus conspiracy.
- The film ultimately answers the question by revealing an alien, shifting the movie's commentary into outright nihilism.
Middle Slump, Final Commitment
- The basement-bound scenes create repetitive ping-pong debates that thin audience engagement in the middle.
- The film regains energy when Lanthimos leans into dark absurdity and commits to a final, cynical payoff.
Reveal Turns Satire Into Misanthropy
- The reveal that Michelle is an Andromedon turns satire into blunt misanthropy about human self-destruction.
- The film uses that reveal to justify an annihilative ending where aliens decide humanity isn't worth saving.