Bug (Special Edition) |  | Director: William Friedkin
Actors: Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr., Lynn Collins, Brian F. O'Byrne
Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
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Rating:  162 reviews
Sales Rank: 33299
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 21801
UPC: 031398218012
EAN: 0031398218012
ASIN: B000T5O48K
Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 2007
Release Date: September 25, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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William (The Exorcist, The French Connection) Friedkin directed this harrowing portrait of slow-boiling paranoia about a lonely waitress (Ashley Judd) whose world spirals out of control after meeting a charismatic but damaged drifter (Michael Shannon). Said drifter fills the gulf of loneliness that has swallowed Agnes (Judd) whole as she struggles to stay afloat in a backwater desert town; gradually, Shannon reveals that his stint as a soldier in the Middle East has left him infested with microscopic bugs that he believes are part of a government conspiracy. The force of his conviction (combined with the horrific physical self-abuse he endures) slowly persuade Agnes that she, too, is infested, and the pair undergo a gruesome mental and physical meltdown. Based on the theatrical production by Tracey Letts (who also wrote the screenplay), Bug has a hard time escaping its stage origins (much of the action takes place in one dingy motel room), but Friedkin ramps up the intensity to near uncomfortable levels, and Judd and Shannon (recreating his performances in the New York and London productions) are more than up to the challenge. Their fearless turns are well-matched by Harry Connick, Jr., as Agnes' creepy ex-husband and Brian F. O'Byrne as a medic who may or may not be part of Shannon's shadowy government cabal. Viewers should be forewarned that the violence is intense and often bloody; those that find insects unsettling should avoid at all costs. -- Paul Gaita
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 162
 A shattering of the soul February 8, 2010
C. Christopher Blackshere (stalking you from the shadows)
First off, totally exterminate any preconceived notions of the extreme horror you might be accustomed to. Bug is more of an alarming psychological journey into the human mind, an intense exploration of a broken soul. It's closer to the films Beautiful Mind and Conspiracy Theory than something like Aliens or The Fly. Director William Freidkin opens the crazy door and dares you to step inside.
The acting and character development in this movie is outstanding. Ashley Judd gives the performance of her lifetime as Agnes, an emotionally battered waitress who is hanging on by a thread. She has a trainwreck of a past, from her abusive ex-husband to her missing child.
She meets a mysterious loner named Peter, and he might offer a hand toward gaining some mental stability. Or he might push them both over the edge. We quickly realize it's most likely the latter, as this romance doesn't take long to unravel. Peter is a war veteran, and claims to be the victim of some extreme government experimentations. His military leaders apparently planted "bugs" under his skin. This may or may not be true, but one thing is for sure--his inner demons are about to come crawling out.
Freidkin unleashes a totally original and riveting psychological drama. The symptoms of this story frantically spread and feed off your mind in frightening fashion. A psychotically sick tale that plagues you with themes of loneliness, desperation, and mental instability. Plus it lightly touches on notions of government control and the devastating effects of war. Such a great film, one that might come off as ridiculous to some as it blazes an unfamiliar path. But for open-minded movie watchers ready to be challenged, this is must-see stuff.
 Awful. January 13, 2010
Devin (Sacramento, CA)
This movie starts off okay, but descends into awfulness quickly. My favorite part was in the first five minutes of the movie, when Ashley Judd tries to open a bottle of wine with her teeth. Please don't watch this movie. There are 0 bugs in this movie, just in case you were wondering. This movie doesn't even qualify for the "so bad it's good" category. If you want to watch an interesting psychological thriller with good acting, go watch the original Sleuth. Or Twelve Angry Men. Or Point Break.
There are multiple interpretations for Bug, but mine is the best! January 2, 2010
Aco
This is a terrific film, obviously a play adapted for screen, and full of the charged stuff of excellent theatre. I honestly thought this was about insects, and prepared my wife and myself for a gritty horror film about paranoia and etymology. No. This film is about Crack. Crack and crack addiction. Yes, it is a love story, and how obsessive passionate love can consume people. The crack references are subtle, shots here and there of a freebasing pipe, and the awkward presence of Dr. Sweet, etc...Now, you may substitute meth for crack, or something similar, but the turning inwards, the paranoid neurosis of addiction is here the stuff of horror and amazing/dark humor. The ending is the only way this can go. Be sure to watch all the credits, for an additional piece of info that may enhance your understanding of why she is where she is.
The acting is excellent, and the direction, by someone versed in compact horror houses makes Bug a memorable film.
 Bug is Manipulation of the Mind November 28, 2009
Katie-Bell (Georgia, USA)
I just want to start off by saying that I loved this film. A lot of people have given it bad reviews, which is respectable, but many of the reviews were about people being "mislead" by the ads and trailers for the movie. One reviewer said that the trailer showed actual bugs - well, they DID show bugs in the movie. There would be brief clips of bugs squirming around; those brief clips helped show you what Agnes and Peter were seeing, especially under the microscope. But, they weren't real. I watched this movie KNOWING that it was going to be a psychological thriller, NOT a horror movie. So I honestly don't know why people get upset about thinking that it was going to be a "sci-fi" or about "monsters". All you have to do is read the back of the box, or better yet read some reviews.
But, regardless of the bad reviews, I really enjoyed this movie. I like movies that have to do with mental illnesses and people going insane. What really got me was Judd's character just eating up everything that Peter told her. She was such a vulnerable character to begin with, so in misery and even a bit paranoid herself. Needless to say, she was already a bit mental before Peter arrived. He just helped her step out of the circle and into the expanding madness. A lot of people complain about movies that have to do with mental illnesses. Not me. I love both books and movies like that.
I do want to mention that a lot of people are confused about the doctor smoking. I didn't think anything of it at the time because what I was thinking was "Okay, he's a doctor and he's trying to sit down and calm her down so that he can talk to her and they can feel comfortable". In otherwords, he's trying to tell her "Look, I'm just like you, let's try and see eye to eye". So, it makes sense to me, not so much to others obviously.
The only thing I didn't like was that it was too short. I feel like if they had drawn it out more it would have been better, much more impacting. It didn't really creep me out. I didn't expect it to. I didn't even consider it a horror. It's the concept and everything behind it that stays with you. This guy thinks he has bugs and he's manipulated this woman to think she has them too. That's the idea, not that "this isn't even about bugs" or "this isn't horror" or "where are the monsters and action". It's a psychological thriller. You've got to think deeper than just what's given to you in the film. The idea is to leave you with thinking that, if you're not careful, anyone can manipulate you, just like Jim Jones and just like Peter did with Agnes. Especially vulnerable people. That is what I got from the film. That people can be twisted into something that isn't real and how, as humans, we can believe almost anything, no matter how bizzare.
Great movie overall. I won't recommend other movies like reviewers on here do. Instead I'll just say give this one a try. If you don't like it, that's cool. But personally, I loved it.
This movie was awsome!!!! November 10, 2009
Stephen A. Doughty (mn, mpls usa)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this film! If you didnt like it its prolly because you were expecting something else or you just didnt undestand it, therefore you couldnt get into it. When my brother first mentioned this movie i didnt really put any thought into trying to see it...dunno why but it just didnt catch me at first. He kept mentioning it and saying he wanted to get the dvd but couldnt find it (i always tell him to go to amazon cause you can find pretty much any flick here for cheap) He eventually ended up catching it on movies on demand and started talking about it again so i said ok im gonna put it on my netflix.
After doing so he kept asking if i had seen it yet so i decided to put it at the top of my list & Im glad i did! There are a few scenes that had me laughing my arse off and rewinding "HE'S A MACHINE!!!! A MACHINE!!!!" stab! stab! and when ashley judd starts going over what prolly happed to her kid and how the bugs arrives, and that leads to "IM THE SUPER MOTHER BUG!!!" GREAT MOVIE & HALARIOUS! Like i said in the intro, If you didnt like it its prolly because you were expecting something else or you just didnt undestand it, therefore you couldnt get into it. I got it in the mail last night and will be watching again before sending back. Then ordering it for the dvd collection.
& now back to work I go!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 162
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