The Screenwriter Discusses the Numerous Unexpected Turns of the New Science Fiction Film

Bugonia screenwriter the writer doesn’t really remember what happens in the original Korean movie. That’s a bit of a surprise, considering he crafted the screenplay for the director’s latest reimagining of the original 2003 film. Rather than studying the source material for inspiration, the writer behind his previous work watched the movie a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and began writing.

“I’ve only seen the original once,” Tracy states. “My memory was foggy on the movie in great detail. I didn't want to feel like I had to be faithfully adapting or recreating or honoring another filmmaker's work. The fairest thing to both films was to have them be judged separately.”

While the basic plot of a emotionally troubled man (Jesse Plemons in the new version) who abducts a pharmaceutical executive he’s convinced is an alien in disguise is pretty much the same in both films, the differences are considerable. For one thing, the writer rewrote the executive character, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s first version, as a woman. (The director chose his regular partner Emma Stone in the role.) The conclusions differ slightly as well, in the way they tackle their shared core mystery: Is this person an alien in disguise or not?

Tracy feels that answer is somewhat irrelevant.

“I never was really concerned with the surprise element,” he says. “I didn't want the film to just be a toy that performs a single trick, and then once it does that surprise, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”

However, Tracy has a lot to discuss on the topic. The interview with the writer touched on Bugonia’s finale and its implications, along with the methods he and the director worked together to execute those surprises.

Warning: Complete details ahead for the conclusion of Bugonia.

Therefore, is the character an alien or not?

In brief: Yes.

Just like in the original film, the end of this version reveals that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named her character, is in fact a royal extraterrestrial in hiding. After tricking her kidnapper Teddy (the actor) into killing himself using her teleportation technology, Fuller transports to her Andromedon spaceship.

The reality that this is unexpected is a proof to her performance. Throughout the two-hour movie, she maintains suspense through a layered portrayal that may take multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“She frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to act where she felt she had to be aware of people viewing it again. What the repeat viewers are going to think,” Tracy says. "She knew the second time a person watches this movie, They are aware I am conscious of… understand?”

Tracy pauses, before adding, “So she had to be aware this awareness in her acting.”

Creating the aliens and their vessel

Once the CEO finally does reveal her true nature, we get a quick look of her ship and other extraterrestrials before the film ends. Their ship has a unique design, which the writer reveals was meant to look like a sea creature while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

“[The director] was really fascinated by almost like a jellyfish-type design for the spaceship, something very natural,” he comments.

The goal was for them to seem strangely somewhat primitive or ancient.

The aliens' clothing is just as interesting as their ship: rounded dress-like garments made from large, ropey threads. Again, the aim was to go against conventional science fiction.

“Regarding the attire, instead of being futuristic, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel strangely kind of tribal or primitive, and yet also highly decorative and sophisticated, because it's a very detailed and beautiful design on those unusual woven outfits,” Tracy says. He adds that Lanthimos “viewed it as being a extremely old society. He disliked the idea of any element being smooth and metallic, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”

The conclusion of the world (or just humanity)

Maybe the most significant change between the new film and the original is that in the original Korean movie, the aliens respond to their ruler's abduction and abuse by destroying the world. Bugonia takes a slightly subtler method, with its aliens choosing to eliminate all human life, while keeping the Earth and its remaining creatures intact.

“My intention to achieve in the script was a vision of the planet post-human existence,” the writer explains.

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of life across the planet. All humans are deceased where they were standing moments earlier, but the Earth continues. How viewers, are meant to interpret all this is up for debate. Is the ending of the film optimistic or pessimistic? Are people fated to perish or worth saving? Would the world be better off in our absence?

The screenwriter does not wish to offer a definitive answer in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a extremely dark conclusion, or a tragic ending, a despairing ending,” he states. “Different audiences view it as being a oddly optimistic or positive ending. In my opinion there are various interpretations to read it.”

Bugonia is in limited theatrical release at present, with a broader opening on Halloween.