Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Bryan Fuller’s ‘Dust Bunny’ Opens With Strong Leads and Stylized Scares

Critics deliver cautious praise, citing standout performances, bold design, uneven effects.

Overview

  • Dust Bunny, the feature directorial debut of Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, hits U.S. theaters on December 12.
  • The dark fairy tale follows Aurora (Sophie Sloan), who hires a mysterious neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) to kill the monster she believes lives under her bed.
  • Reviews highlight Mikkelsen and newcomer Sloan as the film’s emotional anchor, alongside lavish production design and playful creature work.
  • The film carries an R rating for violence despite Fuller’s intention to craft a kid-accessible gateway horror in the spirit of 1980s genre fare.
  • Critics note issues with pacing and digital compositing, even as festival buzz and a Spirit Awards Best First Feature nomination boost the debut’s profile.