TIFF 2025: Dust Bunny Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Pushing the boundaries of television with cult classics such as Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Hannibal, Bryan Fuller now transitions to writing and directing with his first feature film, the more accessible horror-thriller, Dust Bunny. Reuniting with Mads Mikkelsen, who portrays the titular character, devoted fans waiting for another iteration of Hannibal will be comforted by the outlandish and peculiar world that Fuller and Mikkelsen bring to life in this film.

The story follows Aurora (Sloan), a young girl whose parents were eaten by the monster living under her bed. Sharp on her feet, she resorts to hiring the hit man living next door in her apartment building. Only referred to as Resident 5B (Mikkelsen), he becomes intrigued by Aurora’s precarious situation as he suspects her family was killed by real-life monsters meant to target him. Delving into this murky assassin world is where audiences meet his cordially suspicious handler, Laverne (Weaver), and a sternly ambitious hitman (David Dastmalchian) who both become engulfed in this perilous circumstance by their own unfortunate doing.

Along with reuniting with his Hannibal frontrunner, Fuller reincorporates the same prosperous macabre writing and production design that made the series such a cult classic. Building enough curiosity in this assassin’s mysterious capabilities, Mikkelsen reinforces this morally complicated problem-solver with the important nuance to establish an individual with a lot to hide. Despite this reserved persona, Mikkelsen makes excellent use of this Léon: The Professional dynamic to immerse in the endearing chemistry between him and Sloan, personifying this marvelous blend of fantasy, horror, and comedy. Closely resembling the success of genre-bending films like Ghostbusters and Gremlins, Dust Bunny balances that dark horror with the charming family-friendly themes that serve as a great gateway into the horror genre.

Instituting a retro version of New York, Fuller spares no expense in designing every eccentric location, including their primary isolation inside this apartment building. Between the lavish wallpaper, antique furniture, extravagant costumes, and a literal chicken lamp, this fable incorporates all of Fuller’s iconic diverse color schemes and abstract designs to compliment the twisted storytelling. Strongly reminiscent of a Jim Henson creation, the film sparsely utilizes this menacing monster to represent the level of believability that the adults feel towards Aurora’s imagination. When tensions boil over is where Fuller unleashes this creation in all its unrelenting, destructive manner. John Wick-style shootouts quickly turn into a game of survival as the creature’s unveiling evokes genuine over-the-top reactions that elevate the dark comedy to all its glory.

While not as compelling and thematically rich as Fuller’s cult classic television series, his feature directorial debut pivots to a more endearing family-friendly horror film that incorporates his dark comedic writing, opulent production design, and great performances to build a future fan-favorite film.

still courtesy of Roadside Attractions/Cineplex Pictures

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Costa Christoulas

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