The Writer Explains the Many Surprising Twists of Emma Stone's Latest Sci-Fi Movie

Bugonia screenwriter the writer doesn’t really remember what transpires in the original Korean movie. This is somewhat unexpected, given that he penned the screenplay for the director’s latest reimagining of the original 2003 film. Instead of analyzing the original script for inspiration, the writer behind his previous work watched the movie once, took a few notes, and started the process.

“I’ve only seen the original the one time,” Tracy says. “My memory was foggy on the film all that well. My aim wasn't to feel like I had to be slavishly following or recreating or honoring another filmmaker's work. The fairest thing to both films was to have them exist independently.”

While the premise of a mentally unstable man (the actor in the new version) who abducts a business leader he’s certain is an alien in disguise is largely the same in each movie, the variations are notable. To start, Tracy re-envisioned the executive character, originally male in the director's original, as a woman. (The director chose his regular partner Emma Stone in the role.) The conclusions differ slightly too, in the way they tackle their shared core mystery: Is this person an extraterrestrial or not really?

The screenwriter believes that resolution is a bit beside the point.

“I wasn't really concerned with the surprise element,” he comments. “My intention wasn't for the film to just be a gadget that performs one surprise, and then after the reveal, it's like: OK, well, what else does this toy do?”

However, he has a lot to say on the topic. Our discussion with the writer covered the film’s ending and its implications, along with the ways he and the director worked together to execute those surprises.

Spoiler Alert: Complete details ahead for the conclusion of Bugonia.

Therefore, is Emma Stone an alien or not an alien?

In brief: Absolutely.

Just like in Save the Green Planet, the end of Bugonia discloses that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named her character, is in fact alien royalty in hiding. Once she manipulates her captor the unstable man (Plemons) into killing himself using her advanced device, she transports to her alien vessel.

The reality that this comes as a surprise is a proof to Stone’s acting skills. Throughout the 118-minute film, she maintains suspense through a layered performance that may take multiple viewings to fully understand.

“Emma frequently discussed how it was the initial instance she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be aware of people watching the movie a second time. What the repeat viewers are going to perceive,” the writer says. "She knew the second time a person watches this movie, They are aware I am conscious of… understand?”

He pauses, before continuing, “Thus, her performance needed to reflect this awareness in her acting.”

Designing the aliens and their spaceship

Once Stone’s character finally does reveal her true nature, we get a brief glimpse of her ship and fellow aliens before the film ends. Their vessel has a unique design, which the writer shares was meant to look like a marine animal while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

“[The director] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-inspired shape for the spaceship, something quite organic,” he comments.

They should feel oddly kind of tribal or ancient.

The aliens' clothing is just as interesting as their ship: rounded robes made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the goal was to defy conventional science fiction.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel strangely somewhat primitive or basic, and yet also quite ornate and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and beautiful design on those strange knit costumes,” the writer states. He adds that the director “thought of it as being a very ancient civilization. He disliked the idea of anything being smooth and metallic, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The conclusion of the world (or just humankind)

Perhaps the most significant change between Bugonia and the original is that in the first version, the extraterrestrials respond to their leader's kidnapping and mistreatment by destroying the world. Bugonia adopts a slightly subtler approach, with its aliens choosing to eliminate all human life, while leaving the Earth and its remaining creatures intact.

“What I wanted to do in the screenplay was a depiction of Earth after humanity,” the writer says.

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of life across the planet. Every person are deceased where they were standing just before, but the world continues. How viewers, are meant to interpret all this is open to discussion. Is the ending of Bugonia hopeful or pessimistic? Is humanity fated to perish or worth saving? Is the planet be better off in our absence?

The screenwriter isn’t willing to provide a clear resolution in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a extremely dark conclusion, or a tragic ending, a hopeless outcome,” he states. “Different audiences see it as being a oddly hopeful or positive ending. In my opinion there are various interpretations to understand it.”

The film is in select cinemas now, with a wide release on Oct. 31.