Bug Review
From the director of The Exorcist, Bug is a deeply disturbing psychological thriller that tells the tale of Agnes White (Judd). Agnes is a lonely, drug-addicted waitress, living in fear of her abusive ex-husband (Connick Jr.), who has just been released from prison on parole. When Agnes' lesbian workmate and only friend, RC (Lynn Collins), introduces her to drifter, Peter Evans (Shannon), a friendship begins to kindle and slowly romance flourishes.
As Peter and Agnes come to learn more about each other, we learn that Agnes is still grieving the disappearance of her child ten years ago. With her relationship and trust for Peter, Agnes begins looking ahead in her life with a newfound optimism. That is until the bugs appear, tiny bugs that slowly infest the couple's hotel room, biting them and leaving them with rashes. Eager to clear their residence of the bugs Agnes suggests calling in an exterminator, infuriated by the idea Peter declares he will deal with the problem as he cannot risk allowing outside people into the house. It is revealed that Peter was involved in government experiments during the Gulf War, until he had recently escaped the military hospital. Claiming he was exposed to experimental mind control techniques, Peter is obsessed with the idea that there are bugs living inside his blood, feeding on his flesh. Agnes soon begins to experience similar symptoms and strongly believes that she too is a part of Peter's twisted story. Together Peter and Agnes drift down a vicious path of isolation, self-mutilation and paranoia. Closing themselves off to the outside world and covering the entire house in aluminium foil to escape any transmissions from the people that so badly wish to reclaim their experimental patient.
Friedkin does an excellent job of bringing this gritty tale of questionable realities to life. The dark filters create a authentic sense that something is not right from the word go, as the story progresses and we are sucked deeper into what the characters believe is real the moods change. The aluminium coated walls reflect the luminous blue lights of bug zappers and whilst the ominous hum adds to the nightmarish overtones displayed towards the end of the film.
Not all of the credit can go to direction however; the nail-biting suspense is brilliantly drilled into the audience as Judd fills her character with convincing vulnerability that inevitably leads to her tragic belief in a stranger's story. The epicentre of this piece however is Shannon, his portrayal of the delusional-paranoid is second to none; the introduction of his character leaves us feeling uncomfortable, questioning where he comes from and where he is at. As we discover more, the uncomfortable feeling becomes more sinister and frightful, the once-quiet, slightly eccentric drifter has become the epitome of the phrase "danger to himself and/or others". All-in-all Bug is one hell of a thrill-ride, bringing you to the edge of your seat and leaving you there til the bitter end, even after which the line between delusion and reality seems to be breached and we, as the audience, are left to our own devices to figure out what it all means.