action, Bryan Fuller, Caspar Phillipson, David Dastmalchian, Dust Bunny, fantasy, Line Kruse, Mads Mikkelsen, movies, New York City, reviews, Sheila Atim, Sigourney Weaver, Sophie Sloan, TIFF, Toronto International Film Festival
January 14, 2026
by Carla Hay
Directed by Bryan Fuller
Culture Representation: Taking place in an alternate version of New York City, the fantasy action film “Dust Bunny” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few black people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A 10-year-old girl hires her mysterious neighbor to find and kill the monster whom she believes ate her parents.
Culture Audience: “Dust Bunny” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners, writer/director Bryan Fuller, and movies that combine whimsical fantasy with gritty action.
Quirky and visually striking, the fantasy/action film “Dust Bunny” overcomes its plodding dialogue with engaging performances from the principal cast. It’s like 1994’s “Leon: The Professional,” but set in a magical, alternate version of New York City. The movie takes a while before it gets to its most action-packed scenes, but the rapport and emotional bond that develop between the two main characters are worth seeing.
Written and directed by Bryan Fuller, “Dust Bunny” had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. “Dust Bunny” is Fuller’s feature film directorial debut. He is best known for his work in television, including being a creator/executive producer/writer for the TV series “Pushing Daisies” (which was on the air 2007 to 2009) and “Star Trek: Discovery,” which was on the air from 2017 to 2024.
In “Dust Bunny,” a 10-year-old girl named Aurora Jacoby (played by Sophie Sloan) lives in an apartment building with her parents Cecil Jacoby (played by Caspar Phillipson) and Karen Jacoby (played by Line Kruse). Aurora is terrified of that a dust bunny monster lives under her bed. Her parents don’t believe her.
Across the hall from the Jacoby family lives a mysterious assassin, who doesn’t have a name in the movie. In the film’s end credits, he is listed as Intriguing Neighbor (played by Mads Mikkelsen), who is noticed by Aurora. One day, Aurora’s parents disappear, and Aurora is convinced that her parents were eaten by the dust bunny monster. And so, Aurora hires a reluctant Intriguing Neighbor to find the monster and kill it.
The heart of the movie is the unlikely pairing of this hardened assassin with a previously sheltered girl who has to grow up fast as they get into dangerous situations. Supporting cast members include Sigourney Weaver as Intriguing Neighbor’s domineering colleague Laverne; Sheila Atim as a Child Family Services employee named Brenda Bautista; and David Dastmalchian as an unnamed assassin, who is listed in the end credits as Conspicuously Inconspicuous Man.
The “Dust Bunny” production design and visual effects are above-average. Viewers must have patience because the movie’s energy is sometimes too low for what this story needs. However, the story in “Dust Bunny” gets better as it goes along and has a conclusion that should appeal to most viewers.
Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate released “Dust Bunny” in select U.S. cinemas on December 12, 2025. The movie was released on digital and VOD on January 13, 2026.