Bug (Kukci)

Seriously great flick. For anyone who hasn't checked this one out yet—and look, I’m not gonna spoil a single thing—just a heads-up: don't go in expecting a straight-up horror movie. The trailer is one thing, but the actual film is a totally different beast. It’s more of a really polished, deep psychological drama. If you've already seen it, please, drop your thoughts below. I'm dying to know what you guys made of it...
By the way, it was directed by the legend himself, William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A.)

I haven't gotten around to watching it yet, but I was planning to until a friend told me the movie is incredibly dull and people were practically walking out of the theater in droves during the screening...

It’s billed as a horror drama, but by the end, you’re just watching some heavy-handed drama about people struggling with schizophrenia. I went in expecting pure horror. Honestly, the movie itself holds up, but that final sequence where they "realize" what they actually are felt way too over-the-top for me.

Chloe Bishop44 said:I haven't caught it yet, but I was totally planning to until my friend told me the movie was mind-numbingly boring—apparently, people were practically walking out of the theater in droves mid-screening... ?!

Look, if you're just looking for some mindless, typical Hollywood commercial horror crap to pass the time, then honestly? Just skip it.

Drew Wright5 said:It’s billed as a horror drama, but then you end up with this whole heavy thing about people struggling with schizophrenia. I was totally geared up for a straight-up horror flick—the movie itself is solid, it's just that ending where they "realize" what they actually are felt a bit over the top for me.

Honestly, I thought that part was brilliant. Maybe if you're watching it a certain way it comes off as a little much, but it really isn't—people dealing with those kinds of issues are very real, and those two actors played the roles incredibly well.

As for me, I had already convinced myself we were talking about that Apple from 2002—which, in my estimation, was quite excellent and genuinely original.

It’s excellent. For me, this is a completely different side of Ashley Judd.
But let's be honest, the trailer targets an entirely different demographic.
Funny enough, we were just discussing this exact point while I was watching the preview today—a full week after I actually sat through the film.

Watched it yesterday and honestly? Total disappointment. People were practically storming out of the theater in droves. I mean, seriously, you can spot the camera mic in almost every third shot.

It looks like people here aren't as harsh on this movie as I am. Personally? I think it’s absolute garbage. Is the plot stupider than the characters? Who knows. That’s just my take, but I’ll give you this: I agree with you all, it definitely isn't a horror movie.

Before I sat down to watch this, I didn't know a single thing about it. Honestly, that was probably for the best because I went in with zero expectations... And when you have no expectations and then see something like this, it basically has to be good.

The two leads are fantastic, and that entire final act is pure genius—especially the moment where Ashley Judd loses it and yells, "I'm a mother, a total Bug!" or something along those lines...

Paranoia and schizophrenia—I mean, who wouldn't want to watch that? 🙂

Absolutely phenomenal movie. The directing and acting were just spot on... honestly, this was such a huge surprise coming out of Hollywood. I haven't checked the official reviews yet, but I guess this is one of those films that stays with you for a lifetime.

The crowd's reaction to this movie was pretty interesting to watch. I don't think I've ever been to a screening where people were walking out in such massive numbers. It’s definitely the trailer's fault, though—it sets you up for one thing, then the actual movie gives you something completely different.

Anyway, the whole thing reminds me a bit of Mulholland Drive—everything feels relatively normal until a certain point, and then—after that one massive shocker—things just go totally insane. Honestly, that sudden shift is probably its biggest flaw. It suffers from the same issue as The Shining; it just lacks that slow, creeping sense of madness. There aren't really any smooth transitions in how the characters behave. It’s just constant, jarring outbursts.

quietdriver3 said:It just lacks that slow descent into madness; there aren't any smooth transitions in the characters' personalities. It’s just pure chaos.

Oh, God... 🙄

...but the worst part is, I totally get it. I actually agree.

quietdriver3 said:The whole thing kind of reminds me of Mulholland Drive—everything feels pretty normal right up until a certain point, and then—after that massive twist—it just goes totally insane. I guess that sudden shift is actually its biggest flaw. It suffers from the same issue as The Shining—there’s just no gradual build-up of madness, you know? There aren't really any smooth transitions in how the characters act. It's just straight-up chaos.

I think it might just be down to personal taste. For me, I felt that sense of madness right from the start; I was just waiting for the moment it would escalate into full-blown insanity... and it definitely didn't disappoint! 🙂
That dialogue near the end where they finally stumble upon the "Conspiracy" solution is just awesome.

The opening is killer. Those first 15 minutes are just astonishing... absolutely phenomenal...
Ashley looks incredible, even with those extra pounds and enough booze in her system to sink a ship. That helicopter shot heading toward the motel—maybe proof that helicopters actually exist?—was just perfection. One word: flawless.

Then this wild young guy shows up... his acting is phenomenal... everything is going great so far.

But then Ashley starts talking, and she completely ruins her character. It just doesn't track—her dialogue is terrible, yet her figure is perfect. It’s jarring.
Then the Bugs show up.
Do the Bugs actually show up?
Nope, they don't.

And then the whole thing just goes straight to hell.

Honestly, this is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life. Especially those last 45 minutes. Good grief.
I really wanted to write something constructive and back up my points, but then I realized: why bother? I'd much rather spend my time praising something good when the time comes than wasting words on this trash.

I can handle a hanging mic once or twice in a bad movie, maybe four or five times if I'm feeling generous. But when a stationary mic is clearly visible in the upper left corner for a solid 10 seconds during a scene? The whole paranoid atmosphere they were trying to build? Totally ruined. It's gone.

1. Thank God I was at Carnegie Hall earlier for one of the top 5 best performances I've ever seen, otherwise my whole day would have been a total wash.
2. It slightly reminded me of Mel Gibson's Conspiracy... and only then did I realize what absolute garbage the Bugs are.
3. I have no clue why they translated "Bug" as "Kukci" in some versions but kept the title as "Bug." Makes no sense.
4. Despite all the hype, this might be my last time ever watching a Friedkin film.

Arthur Garcia59 said:1. Luckily, I was at Carnegie Hall right before that, and it was honestly one of the top 5 best things I've ever seen, so my whole day didn't turn out to be such a total wash.

I totally disagree with you, like, 100%, but hey, it's fine! Just tell me—if it isn't a secret—what exactly happened at Carnegie Hall? You know, that "top 5 best things" you mentioned?

Arthur Garcia59 said:I can maybe stomach a hanging mic once or twice if the movie is already a total disaster, or maybe four or five times if I'm feeling generous, I guess. But when you have a stationary mic just sitting there in the top left corner, clearly visible on screen for ten solid seconds? Yeah, that pretty much kills it. It completely ruins any sense of paranoia they were trying to build, if they even managed to pull it off in the first place.

I guess you should probably send an appeal straight to the theater itself... or maybe just to those folks hanging out behind the projector.

Rachel Price75 said:That dialogue right near the end where they finally stumble upon the whole conspiracy... I don't know, it just felt kind of weak. Maybe it was just me, but it didn't really land.

I guess that one specific bit of dialogue is really what makes it all worth it... it's honestly the only reason I can look past all his other mistakes. 😁

Arthur Garcia59 said:I can let a hanging mic slide maybe once or twice if the movie is already pretty bad, but when a fixed mic is clearly visible in the top left corner of the frame for a good ten seconds, any attempt at building paranoia just falls apart completely.

Seeing microphones on screen isn't actually a flaw in the film itself; it’s just a sign of sloppy camera operators who clearly don't know how to do their jobs properly.

redowl90 said:The fact that you can see microphones in the shot isn't some technical glitch with the film itself; it’s just incompetent camera operators who clearly don't know what they're doing.

Regarding those camera operators 🤔
—how could that possibly be their fault? They aren't the ones responsible for editing scenes or fixing mistakes.
I always knew this was more of an art drama, but I didn't expect it to be this mindless. 🙄
The pacing is completely off. It starts out so slow that you're waiting for the character to snap, but then suddenly everyone loses their minds and the movie is over. It's just bad.
And yeah, half the crew was practically running out of the set halfway through the shoot. 🤣

Elizabeth Mendoza43 said:theater projectionists 🤔
how could that possibly have anything to do with them? they don't have the power to cut scenes from a movie or fix errors.

That isn't how editing works. Projectionists receive the films in a completely different format. I believe someone mentioned this previously.