Review of Bug (2002) by Pat O — 24 Dec 2008

Downright disturbing and claustrophobic descent into paranoia. I can't say I've ever liked Ashley Judd in any film, but here she's dynamite as a lonely woman in a seedy motel room living in fear of her newly-released convict ex-husband, and living with the guilt of losing her son.

Adding to the fear is Michael Shannon's character, who is brought to the motel by a co-worker and the two hook up. Shannon plays Peter, an ex-soldier who was a guinea pig to medical procedures, and is certain the government is after him and that they planted millions of insects inside his body.

After they have sex, he convinces her that she now has the bugs too. Throughout the film the room shakes from helicopters, though no one is outside. The level of paranoia set by Friedkin is enormous, and the characters quickly slip into deeper depths of insanity.

In her fragile state, she picks up on all the psycho-babble he's saying and gets brainwashed into believing it's all true. They cut themselves everywhere to get the non-existent bugs out, and he pulls out nearly all his teeth after complaining of a toothache.

When the problem tooth is examined under the microscope, they see millions of bugs. Towards the end they're completely out of their minds and swear the only way to end it all is to burn themselves and the room, as he is the "drone" and she's the "queen.

" It's a truly ridiculous story, yet I loved basically everything about it. I feared they may have gone the creature movie route instead of a highly involving psychological thriller about these two outcasts who only have eachother.

Michael Shannon gives one of the best performances of that year, and definitley one I'll be remembering for a long time. If you can get past the moronic conspiracy, check out this well-crafted tale of terror that doubles as an acting lesson.

After all, it is directed by the man behind The Exorcist.