Bug (2006)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers (WGA):

Tracy Letts (screenplay)
Tracy Letts (play)

Release Date:

25 May 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

First they send in their drone... then they find their queen.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Bug | Lesbian | Oklahoma | Abusive Ex Husband

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

2:50 AM

TMC

Cast

Ashley Judd	...	Agnes White
Michael Shannon	...	Peter Evans
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Jerry Goss
Lynn Collins	...	R.C.
Brian F. O'Byrne	...	Dr. Sweet
Neil Bergeron	...	Man in Grocery Store
Bob Neill	...	Pizza Harris (voice)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence, sexuality, nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:-12 (with warning) | USA:R (certificate #42342) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:16 | UK:18 | Taiwan:R-18 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Metairie, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

According to Lynn Collins, director William Friedkin never took more than four takes to get a scene in this film, and in fact worked so fast that the actors sometimes had to beg him to do a second take when he thought they'd nailed it the first time.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Peter leaves the motel room to dispose of the smoke alarm, Agnes uses the bathroom with the door open and we see that the toilet is directly next to the open door. In later scenes, the sink is in the position directly next to the bathroom door.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[phone rings]
Agnes White: Hello? Hello?
[hangs up]
Agnes White: Bastard!

Movie Connections:

References The Exorcist (1973)

Soundtrack:

Innermission

A different William Friedkin?

I was lucky enough to see the movie in a French theater showing a part of the Cannes film festival selection.

If you know William Friedkin mostly for his gritty thrillers or The exorcist, Bug might be a surprise: a single location, 5 characters, no car chase, but still a lot of ambiguity and psychological exploration.

Bug actually reminds me of the first Friedkin movies, also based on plays and more interested in character study than spectacular effects. It's all the more striking that Bug looks like a young man's movie, filled with energy, experimentation, absurd humor and a genuine sense of artistic freedom. Bug tries a lot of things, doesn't always succeed but remains an intense exercise of style. Recommanded for everybody who enjoys a good surprise.