Dust Bunny 2025 Movie Review
Greetings again from the darkness. Raise your hand if you were once a kid. Well then, you likely had some experience with a monster under the bed or in the closet. You may have even had an imaginary friend. It no longer matters how your parents handled scary bedtime for you during childhood, but writer-director Bryan Fuller offers a fantastical tale on what could happen if you don’t believe your kids! Mr. Fuller is best known as the creator of the terrific (and dark) TV series “Hannibal”, and he once again collaborates with Mads Mikkelsen, the titular star of that show.
A tense and dialogue-free opening is so cinematically perfect that I immediately wondered if the rest of the film was going to be a letdown. This plays out like a ‘scary’ children’s story twisted through the mind of a grown-up intent on sending this message to parents: bedtime can be scary time for kids. Sophie Sloan plays Aurora, a ten-year-old girl living with foster parents who lack the understanding and comforting skills that Aurora believes they should possess. The dust bunny from the opening scene is the reason Aurora often warns folks to stay off the floor … advice she heeds herself.
A traumatic event occurs when the foster parents ignore her warning, and soon Aurora is negotiating with a mysterious neighbor on the same floor of her building. She believes he can kill the monster, and she’s not above helping herself to the offering plate of the local church to convince him to help. The neighbor is played by Mikkelsen with his customary style – only the first time we see him he’s wielding nunchucks while wearing a 1970’s style track suit. Since he’s a real-life hitman, he’s convinced there are bad guys after him, and they’ve mistaken Aurora’s apartment for his.
Since I mentioned that filmmaker Fuller was likely inspired by childhood stories, I should also make clear that this movie is R-rated and most definitely NOT for kids. Even though the monster appears to be directly from the mind of Jim Henson’s demented uncle, the film spins off into a wild ride of CGI, action sequences, and violence … all done with tongue planted firmly in cheek. There is some wry humor mixed in, but this is a bizarre fantasy on steroids.
Special mention goes to the set directors and costume designers, as this is one of the funkiest and most elaborate apartment buildings we’ve seen on screen, and even Aurora’s bedroom with zany stuffies looks like something out of a dream. Supporting work is provided by Sigourney Weaver as Mikkelsen’s handler, and one not overly sympathetic to Aurora’s situation – although her specialized high heels add to the ambiance; David Dastmalchian as a confused participant; and Sheila Atim as an FBI agent stunned by developments. If your youngster knows the word “procure” or provides details about the monster under their bed, it’s best to believe them.
