Get ready to witness Mads Mikkelsen unleash chaos in a way you’ve never seen before! But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Dust Bunny the family-friendly horror flick it claims to be, or does it cross the line into something darker? Two years in the making, Bryan Fuller—the mastermind behind the Hannibal TV series—is stepping into the director’s chair for his feature debut with this highly anticipated project. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions are set to release Dust Bunny in theaters on December 5th, and the hype train is officially rolling. IGN recently dropped a jaw-dropping clip (https://youtu.be/1TUqkyuIJxA) featuring Mikkelsen’s character mowing down enemies in a striking yellow-and-black outfit that screams Bruce Lee meets Uma Thurman. Coincidence? Probably not—Fuller’s homage to iconic action sequences is hard to miss. You can catch the clip at the end of this article, but trust us, it’s worth the scroll.
Dust Bunny is billed as a “fantastical and wickedly inventive” tribute to ’80s family horror, blending whimsy with spine-chilling thrills. At its heart is a 10-year-old girl, Aurora, who teams up with her hitman neighbor (Mikkelsen) to confront their literal and metaphorical monsters. Here’s the twist: Aurora believes a monster devoured her family, and her neighbor—haunted by guilt over assassins targeting him—agrees to help. But protecting Aurora means battling not just supernatural creatures but also a wave of human assassins. And this is the part most people miss: The film isn’t just about monsters; it’s about the monsters we create within ourselves. Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver lead the cast, with Weaver teasing her character as “not so nice” despite her stunning wardrobe (https://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/social-swans-and-black-birds-soar-at-the-new-york-botanical-gardens/). Joining them are David Dastmalchian (Late Night With the Devil) and Sophie Sloan (Chemistry of Death), rounding out a stellar ensemble.
Produced by Fuller alongside Entertainment One and Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, Dust Bunny has already sparked conversations. JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray gave it a 6/10 after its TIFF premiere (https://www.joblo.com/dust-bunny-tiff-review/), praising Mikkelsen and Sloan’s chemistry and Fuller’s bold vision. But the question remains: Does it live up to the hype? Here’s the controversial take: While some celebrate its originality, others argue it’s too ambitious for its own good. What do you think? Is Dust Bunny a refreshing twist on horror, or does it bite off more than it can chew? Watch the clip, then sound off in the comments below. And while you’re at it, let’s debate: Are family-friendly horror films a genius blend or a recipe for disaster?
About the Author
Horror News Editor
Favorite Movies: The Friday the 13th franchise, Kevin Smith’s filmography, George A. Romero’s classics (especially the original Dead trilogy), Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1 & 2, FleshEater, Intruder, Let the Right One In, Return of the Living Dead, The Evil Dead, Jaws, Tremors, From Dusk Till Dawn, Phantasm, Halloween, The Hills Have Eyes, the Back to the Future trilogy, Dazed and Confused, the James Bond series, Mission: Impossible, the MCU, and countless others.
Likes: Movies, horror, ’80s slashers, podcasts, animals, traveling, Brazil, the Cinema Wasteland convention, classic rock, Led Zeppelin, Kevin Smith, George A. Romero, Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, Richard Linklater, Paul Thomas Anderson, Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, James Bond, Tom Cruise, Marvel comics, and the grindhouse/drive-in era.
