In theaters on December 12 is ‘Dust Bunny,’ written and directed by Bryan Fuller and starring Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Rebecca Henderson, and Sheila Atim.
OkMLUBIwjXXhDRz2ibW106Related Article: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Bryan Fuller Out as Showrunner
Initial Thoughts
In creating a fantastical world, one has to make it seem believable and real even if it only obeys the rules of its own internal logic. With his feature directorial debut, ‘Dust Bunny,’ Bryan Fuller imagines a surreal vision of what seems to be New York City, yet never makes it or the characters in his story feel three-dimensional.
Famous for creating cult TV shows like ‘Pushing Daisies’ and ‘Hannibal,’ but more recently known for exiting series like ‘American Gods’ and ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ in their early stages or seasons, Fuller shows visual flair with his first film and also benefits from the presence of his ‘Hannibal’ star, Mads Mikkelsen. But ‘Dust Bunny’ never truly comes alive and is far too drawn-out for its own good.
Story and Direction
In an old yet ornate apartment building in what is supposed to be New York’s Chinatown, 10-year-old Aurora is convinced that the dust bunnies under her bed have evolved into a carnivorous monster that has pursued her throughout her young life, eating her previous foster parents and now targeting her new ones. When said parents are seemingly consumed, she enlists the help of her Intriguing Neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) – that’s how he’s listed in the credits – an assassin who is skilled at killing more human monsters but is reluctant at first to help Aurora.
A movie not giving its characters actual names usually raises red flags for us, indicating a frustrating lack of development of those characters. The same could be said for both the story and setting of ‘Dust Bunny’: while it’s meant to be surreal, it’s all too vaguely defined to truly capture our imaginations. It’s as if Fuller, who also wrote the piece, never bothered to go back after his first draft and add more texture and life to his story. It never feels real enough for us to care about what happens to Aurora and the Intriguing Neighbor, although the actors themselves work to give the film some emotional heft.
But even the game cast can’t work around Fuller’s enervated direction and drawn-out pacing, which includes long stretches of looping dialogue that start out as jokes but ends up tiresome and far too repetitive. There are scenes of violence that are gore-free but still jarring within the fairy tale tone of the film, and while there are hints at a broader subtextual metaphor about abuse and neglect of children – and preserving their innocence in a vicious world – they’re also as vexingly hazy as much of the rest of the film.
There are elements here that do have the making of an interesting dark fantasy film, and as noted earlier, Fuller does have an excellent eye for richly detailed compositions and a baroque use of color and shadow. But it often seems like his visuals are searching for a better story.
Cast and Performances
Mads Mikkelsen makes everything he’s in better, and his reunion with Fuller for the first time since he starred as Hannibal Lecter on three seasons of ‘Hannibal’ is one of the best aspects of ‘Dust Bunny.’ Even though his character is so underwritten that he doesn’t even have a name, Mikkelsen does his best to bring the world-weary professional killer to life, and makes his growing fondness for Aurora feel credible.
Little Sophie Sloan is adorable as Aurora, but her line delivery and range are still works in progress. Her finest moments come in some of the tender exchanges with Mikkelsen. Sigourney Weaver shows up as Laverne, who might be Mikkelsen’s boss, lover, or mentor (he confusingly calls her ‘mother’ at one point), and while Weaver always stands out as usual, the character is more of a cartoon character than anything else. Same goes for David Dastmalchian’s briefly seen and even more ridiculously named Conspicuously Inconspicuous Man.
Final Thoughts
We wish there was more to ‘Dust Bunny’ underneath its gleaming, stylish surface, since there are the inklings of an interesting world here – where monsters both human and inhuman are possibly interchangeable – and because there is the budding of a sweet father-daughter relationship between Mikkelsen’s gruff hitman and Sloan’s irrepressible Aurora.
But at 106 minutes, ‘Dust Bunny’ has too thin a story to take up so much time, and not enough charm in its setting or narrative to do anything but test one’s patience. We’re not sure who it’s for either: the violence is probably too much for younger viewers while the story may not hook adults. Bryan Fuller has often displayed a singular imagination, but ‘Dust Bunny’ is too insular and half-formed to truly showcase the man’s talents.
‘Dust Bunny’ receives a score of 50 out of 100.
What is the plot of ‘Dust Bunny’?
When a monster under her bed seemingly eats her mother and father, a 10-year-old girl named Aurora (Sophie Sloan) living in New York City asks her mysterious hitman neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) to help kill the beast.
Who is in the cast of ‘Dust Bunny’?
- Mads Mikkelsen as the Intriguing Neighbor
- Sophie Sloan as Aurora
- Sigourney Weaver as Laverne
- Sheila Atim as Brenda
- David Dastmalchian as Inconspicuously Conspicuous Man
- Rebecca Henderson as Intimidating Woman
- Line Kruse as Mother
- Caspar Phillipson as Father
Series Written By Bryan Fuller:
- ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘ (1993-1999)
- ‘Star Trek: Voyager‘ (1995-2001)
- ‘Carrie‘ (2002)
- ‘Dead Like Me‘ (2003-2004)
- ‘Wonderfalls‘ (2004)
- ‘Heroes‘ (2006-2010)
- ‘Pushing Daisies‘ (2007-2009)
- ‘Mockingbird Lane‘ (2012)
- ‘Hannibal‘ (2013-2015)
- ‘American Gods‘ (2017-2021)
- ‘Star Trek: Discovery‘ (2017-2024)
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