"Dust Bunny" almost slipped right past me, even though it’s exactly the kind of movie I usually live for. Scrolling through HBO Max one night right after the "Euphoria" finale, I stumbled onto the title, paired with a poster featuring Mads Mikkelsen. Naturally, I assumed it was going to be another "weird hitman with a heart" indie that I’d half-watch while multitasking on my phone.
On paper, it sort of is that. The film features a professional killer, an 8-year-old girl, a quirky New York apartment building, and a pretty unhinged premise: The kid hires her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed, convinced it ate her family. But about 20 minutes in, I clocked the name Bryan Fuller in the credits, and everything snapped into focus.
The "Hannibal" creator’s feature directorial debut is more than just a cute movie with a gory hook. It is also packed with star power, featuring the likes of Sigourney Weaver and David Dastmalchian rounding out the cast. I'm honestly shocked I hadn't heard about it sooner. It’s not the kind of movie that's going to ambush your algorithm — though it absolutely deserves to — but "Dust Bunny" is one of the best things I've stumbled onto in months. If you're looking for something to watch, it’s definitely worth adding to your queue.
What's 'Dust Bunny' about?
Aurora (Sophie Sloan) is an 8-year-old living in an old New York City apartment building. She also lives with the firm conviction that a monster resides under her bed, ready to devour anything that touches her bedroom floor. Her parents are loving but understandably skeptical — until, one night, they aren't around to be skeptical anymore.
Convinced the creature ate them, Aurora knocks on the door of her mysterious neighbor in unit 5B (Mads Mikkelsen) and hires him to kill it. Why him? Because she’s been spying on him, and just a few nights prior, she watched him take out what appeared to be an entire dragon in Chinatown.
As it turns out, 5B is indeed a professional hitman. He is also fairly certain her parents weren't eaten by a monster, but were instead killed by other professionals who were actually looking for him. He reluctantly takes the job, partly out of guilt, and partly because his handler (Sigourney Weaver) has just ordered him to eliminate the kid — an order he decides he isn't going to follow.
Why I recommend you stream 'Dust Bunny'
I loved "Dust Bunny" and all of its glorious weirdness, especially its all-star cast. It takes a premise that easily could have curdled into either cutesy whimsy or hollow gore and transforms it into something entirely original. Believe it or not, amidst the blood and a massive, murderous rabbit, there is a genuinely tender story being told.
Mads Mikkelsen is always at his best when playing menacing roles that leave room for a little heart. At this point, a character like this — much like his turn in "Hannibal" — is something he could comfortably do in his sleep, yet he remains entirely captivating.
Sophie Sloan is equally incredible as Aurora. She plays the role with a watchful, slightly eccentric energy that feels remarkably grounded in how real kids actually behave. Watching the two of them share the screen is so engaging that you almost forget you're watching a professional assassin teach a child how to evade killers. The film channels heavy "Leon: The Professional" vibes, so if that classic is up your alley, you can go in knowing this movie will be right down your street.
We simply don't get many movies like this anymore. Truly original, weird mid-budget films feel like a lost art, and this is one gem you shouldn't sleep on like I did.
