Dust Bunny has a sort of captivating charm that keeps you watching
Dust Bunny felt like I was inside some creepy eight-year-old’s imagination.
Plot Summary of Dust Bunny (Spoiler-Free)
Dust Bunny tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who is convinced a monster under her bed has eaten her family who recruits her dodgy neighbor to help her take down the beast.
From there, the film spirals into a mix of dark humor, horror, and genuinely strange adventure, as the pair navigate a world that feels simultaneously magical, threatening, and completely surreal, and while it leans heavily into the perspective of the girl, the adults in her life are all colorful in their own weird ways, each adding to the story’s charm.
It’s part monster movie, part twisted fairy tale, and part visual candy shop – you never know exactly what’s going to happen next.
Dust Bunny Review: Is It Worth Watching?
The world Bryan Fuller has created here in Dust Bunny is quite jaw-dropping in the way that makes you want to pause the movie and just look around at everything, where it’s dense, weird, funny, and sometimes grotesque in the best way.
Fuller clearly spent a lot of time imagining every corner of this universe, and it shows, where the production design is gorgeous, and the cinematography makes the claustrophobic spaces feel alive, like the walls themselves are watching you.
Then there’s the cast, who all produce strong performances.
Mads Mikkelsen delivers exactly what you’d expect, where he’s calm, precise, and somehow effortlessly unsettling when he needs to be, but Sophie Sloan completely steals the show though as the eight-year-old protagonist, where she balances the scary, funny, and heartbreaking moments perfectly.
Sheila Atim and David Dastmalchian bring their own little quirks to the mix, with each aving good moments, and even Sigourney Weaver shows up, but her role is tiny, and you’ll find yourself wishing she had more to do than just show up, smile a little, and exit like a guest star.
But Dust Bunny does have a few glaring issues
The film has a heavy PG vibe in places, despite being rated R, and it feels like the filmmakers couldn’t decide if they wanted to lean into a kid-friendly fantasy vibe or a dark, grown-up horror story.
This mismatch creates some moments that feel awkward or jarring, even though the rest of the film is so visually and narratively engaging.
And the CGI is rough, really rough.
It really pulls you right out of the story at times, and it’s frustrating, because the world Fuller builds is otherwise so rich that any lapse in visual quality sticks out like a sore thumb.
But even with those issues, I was still drawn in the whole way, as Fuller’s writing keeps you guessing all the time.
You never quite know where the story is going, and the final act ramps it up, giving the story an energy that makes up for the earlier tonal missteps, while the humor blends creepy and funny in a way where the movie knows it’s insane, but is having the best time being insane.
Dust Bunny is messy, uneven, and occasionally frustrating, but it’s also genuinely imaginative, funny, and visually striking.
What I Liked (And What I Didn’t Like)
Pros
The World
Every frame is packed with detail.
Sophie Sloan’s Performance
She carries the film on her small shoulders.
Mads Mikkelsen’s Calm Intensity
He’s exactly the right kind of unsettling.
Fuller’s Originality
The story feels fairly original, which is always a plus.
Strong Supporting Cast
Sheila Atim and David Dastmalchian each bring unforgettable moments.
Clever Humor
The film knows it’s weird and is better for it.
Practical Effects
Whenever the movie uses tangible effects, it works perfectly.
Cons
CGI
It gets real rough at times.
Tonal Confusion
It can’t decide if it’s for kids or adults.
Sigourney Weaver
She’s fun, but it would have been better if she had more screen time.
Overstuffed
There’s so much going on that it can feel a bit overwhelming sometimes.
CGI vs. Practical Effects
The difference is jarring.
Who Might Like Dust Bunny
- Fans of Mads Mikkelsen
- People who love darkly comic fantasy
- If who enjoy visually unique films
- Fans of Bryan Fuller’s previous work
- People who like quirky, unpredictable stories
- People who enjoy practical effects
- Those who appreciate oddball humor
- Anyone looking for something different
Who Might Dislike Dust Bunny
- People who need perfect CGI
- Viewers who dislike tonal shifts
- Anyone expecting a traditional monster movie
- Those who dislike dark humor in children’s stories
- Anyone expecting a fully serious horror film
- Viewers who are bothered by mismatched visuals
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching Dust Bunny?
Dust Bunny is quite a messy, uneven, and occasionally ridiculous film with flaws, but it has a sort of captivating charm that keeps you watching, and where you will be constantly asking yourself what the hell is coming next?
Dust Bunny Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More
And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.
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