Bugonia: Rich People Blame You

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest bizarre feature! Is this more accessible than any of his previous flicks? What’s up with all the Bees? Is Emma Stone an alien, or are rich people just from another planet? There’s a LOT to unpack here, so tune in! 

Topics:

• Editor’s Note: No Patreon Exclusive discussion! But, I do intend to trim this episode down from its original 1:38:13 length, so if you want to hear the UNCUT version, tune in on Patreon here!
• Bugonia is more of a dramatic-satire than comedic-satire, despite its marketing implying otherwise.
• As he does, Melvin begins with something he likes; the acting!
• Kathryn, “[Bugonia] plays with what it means to be privileged enough to not have to worry about anything anymore and what it looks like for people who are forced to worry about everything.”
• Mostly, Melvin stepped away from Bugonia with negativity.
• Talkin’ bees and what the word “bugonia” means, and the Old Testament “Creation Mandate”.
• Talking about Don, colony collapse disorder, and getting into the ending.
• It’s common in beekeeping to replace the queen. Why isn’t that mentioned through this allegory?
• A call for the wealthy to be kind to the oppressed.

Recommendations:

• Giant-Size X-Men: Tribute to Wein & Cockrum (2025) (Graphic Novel)
• Savageland (2015) (Movie)

Bugonia is Rated R for bloody violent content including a suicide, grisly images and language. It features Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Bugonia is available here.

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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!

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