Director: William Friedkin
Writer: Tracy Letts (Screenplay) Tracy Letts (Play)
Starring: Ashely Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr, Lynn Collins, Brian F O’Byrne
Plot: An unhinged war veteran holes up with a lonely woman in a spooky Oklahoma motel room. The line between reality and delusion is blurred as they discover a bug infestation.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Just What is This?
Story: Bug starts with Agnes White (Judd) in a motel room getting phones from what she thinks is her ex Jerry (Connick Jr) but no one talks on the other end. When her friend R.C. (Collins) introduces her to Peter (Shannon) to just have a party in the motel where to two become friends even with their differences.
When Jerry turns up he comes threatening Agnes before leaving which leads to Peter and Agnes spending more time together where the two start to find themselves hunting down bed bugs that Peter believes are taking over the motel, but the question remains are they real or in their heads?
Bug tries to build a conspiracy like horror film about believing in bugs within the bodies of the victims. We also deal with the idea of loneliness that meeting others could offer that something missing in life. The problem with this is that is never pulls you in, you never care about the characters or never get a real answer to what is actually going on.
Actor Review
Ashley Judd: Agnes White is a desperate lady living in a motel where she drinks and gets high as she tries to avoid her ex-husband. When he gets released from prison he comes after her while she starts a new relationship with the damaged Peter. Ashley really is wasted in this role that should be better from an actress of her level.
Michael Shannon: Peter Evans is the ex-soldier who ends up shacking up with Agnes where the two start a relationship but also go in search for the bugs in the motel room. He comes off very shy but also accepting of where he is in his life. Michael brings his style to the role but is wasted in this wild role.
Harry Connick Jr: Jerry Goss is the aggressive ex-husband of Agnes who fresh out of prison comes back into her life to try and take her back. Harry is not used enough in this supporting role.
Lynn Collins: R.C. is the best friend of Agnes who introduce her to Peter and is there to try and make her feel good whenever she is feeling down. Lynn doesn’t get used enough in this role.
Support Cast: Bug doesn’t really have much of a supporting cast with anyone else appearing only have an odd scene.
Director Review: William Friedkin – William doesn’t seem to capture any of the horror he once did all those years ago.
Horror: Bug tries to give us horror but most is not scary but most uses is for shock body violence.
Thriller: Bug doesn’t keep us guessing much at all.
Settings: Bug does keep most of the setting within the motel room which helps keeping the film attempted isolation.
Special Effects: Bug uses solid effects to show the body torture given to the characters.
Suggestion: Bug is one to avoid because it just doesn’t have enough about it. (Avoid)
Best Part: Nope
Worst Part: Most of it.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $7 Million
Budget: $4 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Tagline: Paranoia is contagious.
Overall: Terrible body torture film that really is painfully to watch
Rating
