Review of Bug (2002) by Mehdi J. B — 23 Jul 2009

Bug is a rambling, disturbing study of one man and woman's descent into madness. On it's surface Bug seems to be a straight horror movie, incorporating some type of supernatural element--this was especially the impression left by the trailers.

But it's not. This is about a former veteran with some type Schizophrenia (Michael Shannon) who drags a lonely, vulnerable, strung-out woman (Ashley Judd) into his madness. Adapted from a play, the film has one setting and mostly involves the interplay between Judd and Shannon; and while the pair has a kind of fascinating, twisted on-screen chemistry, Bug was about as fun as a proctological exam.

The dialogue becomes weirder and weirder as the film progresses, as does Shannon's behavior. Judd's character generates little sympathy, as it's difficult to believe anyone could be so easily dragged down to this level of insanity.

There's simply not much here to recommend; the writing and directing are competent and the performances are decent, but there was nothing here--neither in the way of story or character--that I cared about or related much to.

A disturbing and uninvolving train wreck of a movie.