Lionsgate
Coming to theatres Dec 12th
Most fans of Bryan Fuller’s work will name Hannibal or Pushing Daisies as his defining projects, but for me, his voice was forged back when he got full credit for scripts for Star Trek Voyager and Deep Space Nine. In Dust Bunny, his feature debut, he leans into an Art déco sensibility that flirts with Wes Anderson staging while brushing up against Tim Burton’s sense of humour. It’s an odd blend, but I’m enjoying the experiment. That’s because his ideas have always balanced a dark, moral edge with a certain playfulness.
As the title suggests, there’s a monster in the mix. Young Aurora (Sophie Sloan) believes it ate her foster parents. Alone for a few days, she’s not sure what to do. But once she musters the courage to ask for help, the only person she can turn to is Resident 5B (Mads Mikkelsen). He’s the perfect “freaky neighbour,” a type Mikkelsen slides into with alarming ease. Together, this unlikely duo might be the only hope the apartment has for stopping whatever’s lurking under the beds before it decides to snack on more tenants.
There’s something in the setup that reminded me of Matilda—a child facing a grotesque adult world, armed mostly with wits and a stubborn spark of belief. Roald Dahl’s influence runs throughout this film. The absurdist humour, the sly alliteration, the way society’s authority figures are presented—Fuller knowingly plays with those ideas. And by including Sigourney Weaver in the mix as a mysterious ringleader to the work 5B does, I’m excited! She adds a different mystique to the shenanigans going on.
Meanwhile, a fair number of social workers show up to check in on how well this young girl is adjusting. Apparently, she’s gone through several families following what happened to her parents–a detail I won’t spoil. This subplot becomes more important later on, and it helps explain why she has gravitated to the gruff 5B. At first, she’s afraid of him, but later on, just how they connect is rather sweet.
And yes, there’s a massive creature that lives under the bed that lives up to what a Dust Bunny should be. However, it’s very selective about its victims; as for why it has not attacked Aurora, what’s revealed is rather oddly cute. For this film, we’re not dealing with the full-throttle menace ala Evil Dead Rise, and nor are we dealing with a creeping dread from Watcher.
Where the film could use more development is in how this world understands and treats these literal beasts and creatures that like to go bump in the night. Some of them are not meant to exist in this world, and that’s why 5B has the job that he does. Even though Mikkelsen played a role in Fantastic Beasts, you’d think he’d contribute more to the film’s dialogue. Although what’s later revealed is vague, I am curious about how long this monster hunter has been at it.
It’s also strange that the apartment building feels underpopulated; the plot suggests a larger community, but we barely see it. That absence becomes a noticeable gap.
Overall, while Fuller is doing his best to build a whimsical yet threatening world, I wanted more of the monster—more of Fluffy chasing after its next potential snack. The film reaches for the chaotic charm of Gremlins, and the many Easter eggs point in that direction, but they don’t fully land. The concept is strong; Fuller simply needs to decide whether he’s making a sincere dark fantasy or a full-tilt horror comedy.
4 Stars out of 5
Dust Bunny Trailer
Discover more from Otaku no Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
