Dust Bunny

"Sometimes there really are monsters under your bed."

2025 1h 46m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 420

FantasyHorror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Ten-year-old Aurora asks her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed that she claims ate her family. To protect her, he must battle an onslaught of assassins while accepting that some monsters are real.

“Sometimes there really are monsters under your bed.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Mads Mikkelsen
Intriguing Neighbor
Sophie Sloan
Aurora
Sheila Atim
Brenda
David Dastmalchian
Conspicuously Inconspicuous Man
Rebecca Henderson
Intimidating Woman
Sigourney Weaver
Laverne
Line Kruse
Mother
Caspar Phillipson
Father

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bryan Fuller
Writers: Dan Milligan, Bryan Fuller
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Canada, Hungary

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Canada, Hungary.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bryan Fuller, shot by Nicole Hirsch Whitaker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Isabella Summers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lisa Lassek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Mads Mikkelsen and Sophie Sloan and Sheila Atim carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sometimes there really are monsters under your bed.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt23172090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bryan Fuller directs. Nicole Hirsch Whitaker behind the camera. Isabella Summers scores. Lisa Lassek cuts. Produced in United States of America, Canada, Hungary. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released last year.
2International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Canada, Hungary.
3Directed by Bryan Fuller, shot by Nicole Hirsch Whitaker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Isabella Summers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Lisa Lassek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Mads Mikkelsen and Sophie Sloan and Sheila Atim carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Sometimes there really are monsters under your bed.".
8IMDB entry: tt23172090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Nicole Hirsch Whitaker
Original score: Isabella Summers
Editing: Lisa Lassek
Production design: Jeremy Reed
Costume design: Olivier Bériot
Makeup / hair: Gergö Lengyel
VFX supervisor: Mukherjee Aniruddha
Sound: Josh Eckberg
Stunt coordinator: Levente Lezsák
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $928,164
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Dust Bunny (2025)

Also by

Bryan Fuller

Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror
2022 · ★ 6.2

Stills · wallpapers

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Manuel São Bento2025-12-10
★ 6/10
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/dust-bunny-movie-review-mads-mikkelsen-and-sophie-sloan-elevate-a-familiar-tale/ "Dust Bunny doesn't reinvent the wheel or say something profoundly new about grief and trauma, but it manages to be a satisfying experience. It's a "silly" film in its conception, and its VFX might not dazzle, but it's all executed with evident affection and clarity of purpose. There's a positive and clear message about sensitive matters, wrapped in a somewhat humorous and innocent layer that, with the due warning about "accessible violence", can be appreciated by various ages. Bryan Fuller reminds us that the monsters under the bed are as real as the pain that feeds them, and that true courage lies not in having no fear, but in finding someone who believes in our truth enough to help us turn on the light." Rating: B-
Brent Marchant2026-05-20
★ 6/10
Picture the noir-esque world of “Blade Runner” (1982) reimagined by a mischievous youngster with a macabre streak, augmented with the lavish stylings of assorted filmmaking auteurs and fused with the menacingly beastly trappings of “Gremlins” (1984), and you’ve got a good idea what to expect out of this debut feature from writer-director Bryan Fuller. Ten-year-old Aurora (newcomer Sophie Sloan) is terrified of the nefarious monster that lives under her bed, despite assurances from her well-meaning foster parents that no such creature exists. But the young New Yorker has good reason to trust her apprehensions, especially when she discovers that the voracious dust bunny has eaten both of her caregivers – just as it had with previous pairs of foster parents. Consequently, Aurora knows something must be done to vanquish the beast, so she opts to contract for the services of her mysterious neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen), a ninja-like hitman, to kill it. She’s aware of the intrepid warrior’s skills, having clandestinely witnessed him take down an army of “monsters” in a Chinatown back alley late one night (those so-called monsters were actually adversaries charged with eliminating him, but, given that they were cloaked in the costume of a Chinese dragon, it’s easy to see how a 10-year-old’s perception and imagination might run away with her). Needless to say, the hitman is skeptical about taking a contract bankrolled by a child (with money she matter-of-factly stole from a church collection plate), but he reluctantly relents, especially since they’re each now simultaneously pursuing (and being pursued) by monsters of their own (and, ironically, of their own making, too), even if their pursuers assume fundamentally different physical forms. Together, this unlikely duo embarks on a quest to slay their respective demons, a journey marked by colorful scenarios and eccentric supporting characters, including the hitman’s mysterious “handler” (Sigourney Weaver), one of the contract killer’s “inconspicuously conspicuous” rivals (David Dastmalchian) and an enigmatic child custody services case worker who isn’t everything she claims to be (Sheila Atim). And it all takes place in that whimsical, shadowy, deceptively sinister version of the Big Apple described above, an exquisitely designed backdrop fittingly distinguished by its positively stunning production design and framed by its absolutely gorgeous cinematography, elements not unlike those found in the works of Tim Burton, Bill Condon, Baz Luhrmann and the Coen Brothers. However, for all of the film’s meticulous attention to style, it doesn’t live up to the same standard when it comes to the narrative and screenwriting. While this would-be campy horror romp strives to merge aspects of fairytale sweetness (as seen, for example, in the emerging quasi-parental relationship between Aurora and her new friend) with the edginess of the works of the Brothers Grimm (but on steroids), it never quite gets the mix right, occasionally becoming circular and largely remaining underdeveloped or unresolved. In addition, for all its visual strength, there are times when the sound quality could use some shoring up. And it should also be noted that, despite this offering’s young protagonist, it’s not really an option for viewers in that age group (unless, of course, they’re clearly wise beyond their years and are capable of handling and appreciating material suitable for such maturity). To its credit, “Dust Bunny” makes some modestly insightful observations about the monsters who chase us and how we might address that challenge (especially when we consider the nature and sources of those demons), and good arguments could be made in favor of its impressive performances by Sloan, Weaver and Mikkelsen, as well as its two Independent Spirit Award nominations for best first feature and (particularly) best cinematography. It’s just unfortunate that the substance of its meat doesn’t match the flavor of its gravy, but, as this was the filmmaker’s first big screen effort, perhaps it made for good practice at preparing a delicious meal overall the next time around. In the meantime, proceed with caution the next time you go looking under your bed.
Sierbahnn2026-05-27
★ 8/10
Whimsy, darkness, and lovely acting This movie loos nothing like its trailer, and that is a great thing, especially today. Too many will give up their entire plot, but this movie plays it closer to the vest, and throws you a few massive curveballs along the way. The acting and directing is solid, the sound and visuals are great, and it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. I can highly recommend it.