• Release year: 2025
• Director: Bryan Fuller.
• Producers: Bryan Fuller, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee.
• Screenplay by: Bryan Fuller.
• Cinematography by: Nicole Hirsch Whitaker.
• Music by: Isabella Summers.

Shotgun Commentary: the beginning is as confusing as the viewing is satisfying.

Review

Dust Bunny is the most random action film I have watched this year, and as such, it is my duty to encourage anyone reading this to please do NOT miss it for anything. It has everything you could possibly want: awesome action scenes, gorgeous cinematography, flawless acting, and a bonkers story.

The movie follows Aurora (Sophie Sloan), a little girl who has some serious monster-under-the-bed issues, and her neighbour (Mads Mikkelsen), whom she hires to deal with said monster. The beginning is difficult to follow on account that it is as bizarre as can be. However, if you bear with the madness and don’t rewind every five seconds—like yours truly did—you will eventually be able to understand what the hell is going on. Or you can read my spoiler-free summary below to save you the inevitable paranoia that those first fifteen minutes will provoke.

The grey waters of truth

Aurora and her neighbour live in different realities. That is not to say we are going Marvel multiverse with this; it is just to say that they live dramatically different lives. Aurora is battling against an evil dust bunny under her bed—yes, the title is actually relevant to the movie. And her neighbour is an assassin who has a fair amount of enemies going after him.

Both realities collide when Aurora’s parents are supposedly eaten by the monster under her bed, and she sees her neighbour slaying a dragon-looking monster in his best Kill Bill-themed tracksuit. To the girl, her neighbour is a monster killer, so he must be the solution to her problems. To him, she is a delusional little girl who’s inadvertently got caught up in his mess just because they live in opposite apartments. Who is right in their assumptions is something that you will not confirm until the very end, but you will have so much fun getting there!

Lights, camera, action!

For starters, every single shot is a masterpiece in neon and shadows. There is not a single moment that does not feel carefully curated for your eyes to sigh in satisfaction. Sets, lighting, props, wardrobe, makeup and hairstyling all work together to bring you a dream-looking atmosphere that feels both cosy and unnerving with a simple light switch or camera angle.

Speaking of which, the camera work is strong on this one. The angles are insane, constantly changing and adapting to the action to give you a visual perspective that feels fresh and original. The camera plays with the notions of reality and fiction and with the different POVs of both characters in a way that can only be described as impossible to ignore.

Last but not least, the cast has exactly the people you want in a crazy action movie: Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian. All known for their prowess in both action and deranged features, they do not disappoint. As for Sloan in the role of Aurora, she manages something that few children achieve: she will not awaken your inner murderer. In fact, not only is Aurora not cringe, she is actually incredibly easy to root for.

All in all, Dust Bunny is a movie you simply cannot miss if you like creative projects and action films. There is not a single boring minute in it, and you will not have to put up with any pointless villain speech. What more could you possibly ask for?

Advice to take from this movie:

• Do not dismiss children’s wacky statements so easily.
• It is important to clarify whether the monster is under your bed or under the floor under your bed.
• When in need, you can always steal money in a church to hire an assassin.

What’s your take? Have you watched Dust Bunny? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀