'Hannibal' Creator's First-Ever Movie Is the Perfect Fantasy Horror to Watch Before Christmas
Following the tradition of quirky 80s family movies, this flick creates a special magical world that you want to believe in.
Bryan Fuller, the showrunner behind Hannibal, has finally made his feature film debut. His new movie, Dust Bunny, is a strange and charming dark fairy tale that perfectly captures the Christmas spirit.
Combining fantasy, horror, and dark comedy, the story of a ten-year-old girl and her peculiar neighbor feels like a continuation of the best traditions of quirky 80s family films.
What Is 'Dust Bunny' About?
Ten-year-old Aurora is convinced that a monster lives under her bed and devoured her parents one night, but no one believes her.
Desperate, she turns to her mysterious neighbor across the hall for help. He seems to be the type who kills monsters at night. After saving up some money, Aurora hires him as a professional monster hunter to get rid of the monster under her bed once and for all.
'Dust Bunny' Is Bryan Fuller's First-Ever Feature-Length Project
Despite his successful career creating iconic TV projects, Dust Bunny marked Bryan Fuller's feature-length directorial debut – and he made the transition seamlessly.
The movie embodies his signature style, featuring a twisted aesthetic, grotesqueries, dark humor, and incredible attention to detail.
Rather than playing by the rules of realism, Fuller creates his own slightly bizarre world where killers wield dragon-shaped muskets and a lunch break can cost lives.
'Dust Bunny' Is a Dark, Grotesque Fairy Tale in the Style of 'Gremlins'
Dust Bunny evokes the golden age of quirky family cinema, reminiscent of movies like Gremlins and Roald Dahl adaptations.
The visual style is bright and contrasting, almost cartoonish, the characters are exaggerated and eccentric, including an unexpected cameo from Sigourney Weaver.
It's a movie that isn't afraid to be strange and naive while also being genuinely frightening.
'Dust Bunny' Is Not a Dramatic Masterpiece, but It's a Touching Story About the Importance of Having a Family
Don't expect plot twists or deep psychological drama from Dust Bunny. Its strength lies in its simplicity and sincerity, as well as the incredible chemistry between Mads Mikkelsen and Sophie Sloan.
Mikkelsen plays a killer who suddenly discovers empathy, while Sloan plays a smart, sarcastic, and determined girl, not a helpless victim. It's a story about how the loneliest people can find each other and create their own family, albeit a very strange one.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dust Bunny'?
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Dust Bunny has 84% from critics and 83% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.0/10.
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On Letterboxd, Dust Bunny scored 3.4/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Dust Bunny'?
Dust Bunny is currently playing in theaters.
