Dust Bunny
Directed by Bryan FullerTen-year-old Aurora asks her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed that she claims ate her family. To protect her, he must battle an onslaught of assassins while accepting that some monsters are real.
Dust Bunny Ratings & Reviews
- ShaydeknightJanuary 13, 2026Dust Bunny is a strange, moody little film that sits comfortably in the lineage of stories centred on children living through dreamscapes. It's tempting to compare it to films like The City of Lost Children, Pan's Labyrinth, and, more faintly, Hugo or Inkheart. After all, it it's a film that prioritizes atmosphere above all else, and on that front it often succeeds. The colour palette is rich, the costumes and sets are lovingly designed, and the staging feels deliberate and theatrical. Every frame looks considered, even when the narrative itself feels elusive. It seems as if Bryan Fuller is trying to stand in Wes Anderson's shoes while he's doing a remake of Leon, the Professional. The cast is uniformly strong. Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian all deliver performances that lean into the film's surreal, half-dream logic. Their work is restrained, distant, and eerie, which clearly aligns with the director's intent. Sheila Atim is also notably effective here, far better used than she was in the unfortunate misfire that was The Woman King. Still, the real standout is Sophie Sloan. As the young lead, she carries the film with remarkable confidence and emotional intelligence, grounding the abstraction with a genuine presence that never feels forced or precocious. Where Dust Bunny falters is in Fuller's over-reliance on mood and suggestion. The dialogue is so sparse and contained that it actively undermines any sense of connection between the characters. Mystery curdles into detachment, and emotional beats arrive muted when they should resonate. The CGI does not help matters, often looking unfinished and breaking the spell rather than enhancing it. The overall effect is that of a promising idea pulled from the oven too early. The shape is there, the intention is clear, but it is not fully cooked. The toothpick does not come out clean. Also, I didn't care for the aspect ratio of the film. It's shot at 3:1 (ultra-widescreen). I couldn't watch it on my TV, I had to see it on my monitor, which, as fortune would have it, is an ultra-wide. The choice to film at that size is an odd one. The image feels constrained, flattened, and directional, which mirrors the subject matter, and that may be the point. But in my opinion, a ratio like 3:1 makes immersion in a conventional cinematic manner a challenge for the spectator. It keeps the viewer slightly detached, always aware of composition. Now, when a formal choice like that fails to justify itself emotionally or intellectually for the viewer, it stops being expressive and starts being an obstacle. Which is precisely what occurred. Even so, I found the film fairly entertaining. Its ambition and aesthetic commitment carry it a long way, and there is enough imagination on display to make it worth the time, even if it ultimately feels like it's less than a full triumph.
- IJzerenVuistjeFebruary 2, 2026Proof that there a still original films being made. Beautiful design too
- Dale LeerJanuary 31, 2026Dust Bunny plays like a bedtime story that went feral, dark, dry, and just twisted enough to make you laugh at the worst possible moments. The movie keeps tossing you between possibilities: is there actually something lurking under the bed, or is the real danger the assassins hunting her for being a witness to her hit‑man neighbours work? He’s convinced his enemies are the ones who killed the girl’s parents, so he’s in full guilty protector mode, guarding her from… well, something. Whether that “something” has teeth or a gun is part of the fun. By the end, the film does give you an answer, but it never spoils the ride by tipping its hand early. You’re left piecing things together while the tension builds, wondering which nightmare, monster or hit squad, is actually waiting in the dark. It’s moody, sharp, and the kind of story that makes you eye both the shadows and your neighbours a little differently afterward.
- chugs rodriguez6d agoA deeply stylised film shot in a 3.00:1 ratio it pays homage to Wes Anderson, Kill Bill and The Professional. A deeply personal film with a subtext of how ones monsters follow you, even when your change family, and how monsters are everywhere in our lives. A great film. Worth watching if you have doubts and are flicking around for something to watch, especially if you like Wes Anderson films.
- Hugues GrelierMarch 30, 2026Found it in a list of best horror movies of begin 2026. Well it’s not a horror movie 😅 is it bad ? Not really. Is it good ? Not really. Still a pleasure to see MAD on a screen but this Time a bit desapointed by the all expérience. Lets do your own think about it 😅
- [email protected]January 15, 2026John Wick for kids. Entertaining though.
- benjamintay2January 15, 2026Loved it! Creature design was on point!
- QNXUAMarch 28, 2026Almost a Leon, but on hi
- Tyler CampbellMarch 22, 2026Dust Bunny follows a little girl and her hitman neighbor as she tries to convince him to kill the monster under her bed that ate her parents. Our hitman neighbor kills monsters for a living, at least that's what the little girl imagines. As the movie progresses, it keeps you guessing about whether the monster under her bed is real or a coping mechanism for trauma and abandonment. Dust Bunny is dark in its themes but light and fun in its delivery. The sets, characters, costumes, and cinematography are all very quirky and stylistic. Most movies like that don't speak to me, but Dust Bunny is an exception. While it's not perfect, I definitely recommend it, if you're up for a whimsical horror version of Leon The Professional.
- Walter Jospeh KovacsJanuary 26, 2026Like a weird mashup of Matilda, Monsters Inc. and Leon The Professional. I initially had high hopes for the movie but found it mildly entertaining throughout. While the young protagonist was an intriguing character (unusually self-assured, direct and erudite), I just didn't feel any connection to any character and subsequently felt indifferent to the movies' outcome - which was anti-climactic. But is rated R and is a mild horror for kids (probably no younger than 12) and that's why there is no intricacy of plot, depth of character etc... nice and simple for the kids.
- OaklairdMarch 18, 2026Grabbed me in the first five minutes. Loved the set design and cinematography.
- ArmagedosMarch 2, 2026The film is different but still good 👍
- AcemanJanuary 13, 2026Enjoyable
- Yura NJanuary 31, 2026An excellent movie, not sure it's aimed at the kids, but an excellent production.
- necklesswonderJanuary 31, 2026Horror? Drama? Hmm. Fantasy, definitely. And an excellent one at that! Not at all what I expected but so very refreshing in today's movie market that seems to be filled with so much slop.
Dust Bunny Trivia
Dust Bunny was released on December 5, 2025.
Dust Bunny was directed by Bryan Fuller.
Dust Bunny has a runtime of 1h 45m.
Dust Bunny was produced by Bryan Fuller, Erica Lee, Basil Iwanyk.
Ten-year-old Aurora asks her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed that she claims ate her family. To protect her, he must battle an onslaught of assassins while accepting that some monsters are real.
The key characters in Dust Bunny are Intriguing Neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen), Aurora (Sophie Sloan), Laverne (Sigourney Weaver).
Dust Bunny is rated R.
Dust Bunny is a Drama, Horror, Thriller film.
Dust Bunny has an audience rating of 8.2 out of 10.
Dust Bunny has made $928K at the box office.