Whenever a new movie comes out, there’s a question that always seems to linger in the air. Is this movie doing anything new? Is it taking us anywhere fresh? And sadly, in our current day and age, many ideas feel rehashed and overdone, tired and ready to be put to bed. But, beyond its exceptional performances, gorgeous settings, iconic costumes, and endearing storyline, Bryan Fuller’s new (and first) movie, Dust Bunny, triumphs because it truly takes us somewhere we’ve never been before. While Dust Bunny taps into many different genres that we know and love, everything from ’80s Amblin-esque gateway horror to sleek, spycraft hijinks that call up James Bond to the relentless action of Bruce Lee Kung Fu movies, it spins them beautifully into a unique creation that could only belong to Bryan Fuller. Dust Bunny is that movie. The one that brings to us what we all purport to seek in our new releases. It’s new, it’s fresh, and it’s fun. Join us as we delve deeper into the magic in our full Dust Bunny review.
For me, Dust Bunny falls into a genre of fiction specific to Bryan Fuller, something I call whimsical horror. In Dust Bunny, the stakes are real, the creatures have teeth, and the true darkness lies firstly in the scariest monster of all, man. But, at the same time, there’s a gorgeous levity that overlays everything. Everyone is funny, the comedic beats hit hard, and even foes who wish to slit one another’s throats have witty banter between them. Overlaying all of this is the Bryan Fuller special, that slight shifting of the movie’s world so that Dust Bunny at once takes place in our reality and in a fantasy. It’s a delicate skew, but a powerful one. At times, the characters seem to inhabit a world just like ours, but at others, fireflies guide the way to assassins, giant hippo statues can roll along the floor, and bunny-shaped dim sum can squeak and cry, and that’s as real as anything else. The question is not, “How can reality exist alongside feats of fantasy?” But, “Why not?”
And it’s this shift to the slightly surreal that allows Bryan Fuller to paint both an incredibly resonant tale about the struggle of two people who seek connection and the hardship of escaping the trauma that’s inside of our hearts and under our own beds, AND tell a gloriously giddy fairytale where assassins seep out of the wallpaper and little girls can manifest monsters by wishing on a shooting star. It’s what allows for a reluctant father-figure tale to blend into a horror movie to blend into a Kung Fu action film to blend into a fantasy world. And if that sounds like nothing you’ve ever seen before, it’s because that’s exactly what it is.
Additionally, as with other Bryan Fuller creations, Dust Bunny is crafted with care. There’s not a single frame in Dust Bunny that doesn’t bleed with purpose, and not a single detail that doesn’t add something to the proceedings. One of my favorite examples occurs about midway through the movie and features Sigourney Weaver’s character, Laverne, and Mads Mikkelsen’s “Intriguing Neighbor” having tea at a restaurant. What could have been a simple (albeit incredibly performed) conversation comes to incredible life because Sigourney Weaver is somehow shot to look about ten times larger than Mikkelsen in the moment, almost as though she is a fairy tale giant (complimentary), and he, a paltry human in her presence. I had to blink three times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, because the change is so subtle yet so impactful.
Once again, that slight, delightful shift that keeps things in a whimsical place between fantasy and reality rears its head. But that’s just how the cinematography works in Dust Bunny. The cinematography, the costume design, the set decoration, the food styling, and any other element you could think of, that is. Everything comes together to add layer after layer of meaning that’s there for you to dive into (or not) as you’d like, but regardless, its mere existence heightens the deliciousness of every second of the film you watch. Dust Bunny feels rich for this reason: a movie that invites you in and then envelops you. It’s not just a thin veneer of entertainment that feels shallow when you look back, but a satisfying and fully realized tale.
It also helps that the ultimate conceit of the story is so simple, but so incredibly clever. A young girl believes she sees her assassin neighbor kill a monster, so she hires him to kill the monster under her bed. The story has all the hallmarks of childhood but unfolds to appeal to a full spectrum of generations. Any person of any age could find themselves looking through the eyes of Aurora, the young girl, or through those of the Intriguing Neighbor. Importantly, Dust Bunny honors both perspectives and even reveals the great similarities between them. Additionally, though the movie plays with many themes, including the question of monstrosity, the nature of grief, the complexity of family, and more, it doesn’t leave you feeling like you must agree with its specific vision on any of those topics. Instead, Dust Bunny leaves space for, well, you, and your interperations, in a wonderful way that respects its audience, young or old.
Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention the incredible actors of Dust Bunny‘s cast. By all accounts, Mads Mikkelsen had a major hand in crafting and executing his role in the movie. And it shows. The character of the Intriguing Neighbor fits Mads like a glove, allowing him to display his many talents as an actor, including some he doesn’t often get to show, his softness, mischievousness, and incredible aptitude for comedy, and some that he does, his action chops, microexpressions, and more.
Going toe-to-toe with Mikkelsen, newcomer Sophie Sloan delivers an iconic performance beyond her years, capturing the spirit of an old soul to a T and bringing forward snarky humor, gouts of childish sadness, and that kind of specific wisdom only a kid can really have like a pro. Of course, Sigourney Weaver totally stole the show in every scene she appeared in. Her Laverne is ice cold and fabulous. And we LOVE her. A true queen.
Meanwhile, Sheila Atim quickly won our hearts in this role with her warm, but butt-kicking, performance, and we can’t wait to see more of her in Hollywood. David Dastmalchian also appeared in this movie and likely needs no hyping. But he is great in Dust Bunny, as he is in his MANY recent cinematic outings.
We also have to give it up for Dusty the Dust Bunny monster. Practical is always better in our book, and that holds true for Dust Bunny. When you finally see the movie’s giant puppet of a monster, you will NOT be disappointed. And there’s nothing harder to get right than a reveal, but Dust Bunny does it. Dusty really is a star.
Dust Bunny is a special movie. It’s not like anything else out there right now, and it’s not like anything else ever. It’s a movie that’s worth your time and attention. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you think, and it’ll take you into a world of wild imagination you’ll want to live in forever. There’s thoughtfulness in it, there’s spectacle, and there’s a darn good time. Do yourself a favor and let yourself get dragged into the mind of Bryan Fuller. Dust Bunny is now in theaters.