Bug (2006)

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.

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Tracy Letts (screenplay), Tracy Letts (play)

Stars:

Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr.

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

Having escaped her abusive ex-husband Goss, recently released from state prison, Agnes, a lonely waitress with a tragic past moves into a sleazy, rundown motel. Her lesbian co-worker R.C. introduces her to Peter, a peculiar, paranoiac drifter and they begin a tentative romance. However, things aren't always as they appear and Agnes is about to experience a claustrophobic nightmare reality as the bugs begin to arrive...

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Plot Keywords:

breast sucking | male frontal nudity | bare breasts | bug | motel | 

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Taglines:

Paranoia is contagious.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Films [United States]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bogárűző

Filming Locations:

Olancha, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,015,846, 27 May 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$7,006,708, 17 June 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Films, L.I.F.T. Production, DMK Mediafonds International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Apartment set was built inside a high school gymnasium in Metairie, Louisiana.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

There is a short scene after the first part of the credits, a telephone rings during the credits, and a brief shot after the credits end.

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Connections

Referenced in Playback (2012)

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Soundtracks

Searchin'
(1964)
Written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
Performed by Alvin Robinson
Courtesy of Tiger Records & Leiber/Stoller Productions, Inc.

User Reviews

Effectively disturbing psychological thriller

Bizarre, stylish thriller is one of the best big screen tales of creeping paranoia in many years.

Depressed Oklahoma woman living in a rural motel meets a mysterious drifter who claims the army has planted deadly insects in his body as part of a shady experiment. But that's only the beginning...

While the trailer for Bug may make it seem like a David Croenberg-type parasite horror film, Bug is really much more of a dark psychological character study. Never the less this is a compelling and truly twisted little shocker. The plot starts off leisurely, but ultimately builds to some intense and hauntingly good sequences. The characters are convincingly well played, the atmosphere is brooding, and the direction is slickly done.

Ashley Judd is terrific as the lonely woman who becomes infatuated with the stranger and Michael Shannon does a strong performance as the ex-soldier who fears he is part of a sinister conspiracy. Harry Conick Jr. is also great in his supporting role as Judd's abusive ex-con husband.

While Bug may disappoint gore-hounds, those that enjoy a good mind-trip will find much to savor in this warped little film!

*** 1/2 out of ****