PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. “Bugonia.” / “Hallow Road.” / “Mr. K.” / “Strange Darling.” / “Inside.”

“Bugonia” (2025, Netflix) black comedy thriller, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. An English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!” by Jang Joon-hwan. Two young men kidnap a powerful CEO, suspecting that she is secretly an alien who wants to destroy Earth. 


       Sans a few gory murk that is “obligatory” in movies by the madman Yorgos Lanthimos, “Bugonia” is the most entertaining (to me). Next to 2024's “Kinds of Kindness.” I didn't really dig the absurdity, surrealism or whatever high-brow weirdness of “Poor Things” (2023), “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017), “The Lobster” (2015), or “Dogtooth” (2009). My apologies to critics and awards-giving joints. 

       My appreciation of “Bugonia” is pointed at its whacked script by ex-The Onion editor Will Tracy. And Jesse Plemons’ intellectual nutcase Teddy Gatz and Emma Stone's pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (no spoilers about the ending). Both are of course nominated in the Academy, Golden Globes, BAFTA etcetera.

        “Bugonia” though appeals to those who are cool with the eeriness of the films by Mr Lanthimos, Ari Aster, or Robert Eggers. 🎥💻📽


“Hallow Road” (2025, Hulu) psychological horror. A married couple who attempt to help their daughter cover up the evidence of a car accident that she caused. 



       No problem with the performance of Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys and I don't question the cinematic merits of this psychological thriller. But midway through the drama, I knew what it's all about. Still predictably silly in the end. All these psychological “horrors.” 🎥💻📽


“Mr. K” (2024, Amazon Prime) surrealist mystery drama. A traveling magician finds himself in a Kafkaesque nightmare when he can’t find the exit of the hotel he has slept in. Crispin Glover is Mr K. Yup, Crispin fits the title role to a T. 


        This project is teeming with picturesque surrealism and weird sequences that don't really make sense, except the obvious “you can check in but you may never leave” message. But for some reason, the visual theater is enjoyable and Mr Glover did keep me engaged. 🎥💻📽


“Strange Darling” (2023, Amazon Prime) psychological crime thriller. Set in rural Oregon, it follows a man and woman who have a one-night stand that devolves into a cat-and-mouse game of murder. 



       Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie 95 percent (out of 155) favorability. This: "(Writer-director) JT Mollner delivers a thrillingly unexpected and electric ride with two breakout performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner.”

       Again, I disagree with critics. This movie is no different from the gore/bloodbath of the genre. And both leads are over-acting. Meanwhile, the story seems disjointed and the characters’ behavior had no backbone. BTW, the opening blurb is simply a cinematic device. This movie is pure fiction, albeit unimaginative. 🎥💻📽


“Inside” (2023, Fandango) psychological thriller. An art thief is trapped inside a luxury penthouse, slowly losing his grip on reality. Stars Willem Dafoe. 



       First, I'd like to reiterate that I am not reacting to movies and TV series as a critic (like I used to). I am a consumer who watches per entertainment, curiosity, and sheer distraction. 

       Willem Dafoe did act fine albeit in a (mentally tiring) single-note drama. Then it all became tedious or boring. But I wanted to see how'd this conclude. It didn't. Willem's Nemo stays inside. Hey, I am in no mood to pore over the subliminal message or whatever, okay? 🎥💻📽


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