Dust Bunny: When Horror Turns Cute

Release Date：Dec/25/2025

Genre：Monster Horror/Action/Drama/Horror/Thriller

Director：Bryan Fuller

Cast：Mads Mikkelsen、Sophie Sloan、Sheila Atim、David Dastmalchian、Rebecca Henderson

Viola's Rating：7.6

Mads Mikkelsen appears in another horror, yet this time he’s not eating any human beings, but killing a monster for a little, cute girl. Famous writer Bryan Fuller’s very first feature film as a director, Dust Bunny, was released in the US on December 12, 2025, and went on streaming services on January 13, 2026.

As a horror that doesn’t really scare, this dramatic monster horror action thriller is R-rated for some violence. It tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who asks her scheming neighbor for help in killing the monster under her bed that she believes ate her family.

Being afraid of all kinds of monsters is a shared childhood memory for all adults. Whether it’s the boogieman under the bed or the creepy presence in the closet, they all represent some form of childhood trauma. Dust Bunny uses a very clever analogy to depict these frightening experiences from a child’s perspective, creating an adorable horror flick. At the end of the day, it has to be ourselves to conquer our own fear.

Dust Bunny also reminds parents to take children’s words seriously. Adults tend to look at the world through logic and reason, but when kids describe what they see or feel, it’s easy for adults to jump to conclusions and doubt their stories. Sometimes, children simply express what’s in their eyes and minds, they’re not necessarily lying.

Although Dust Bunny seems to tell its story through a universal concept, it actually contains many cultural references. For instance, the title itself is a special English term referring to an aggregate of dust, but in the motion picture, it represents much more. Other terms, such as “intriguing neighbor” and “the floor is lava,” are also brought up, requiring audiences to have some cultural understanding to fully grasp their meanings.

Beyond Western cultural elements, director Fuller also incorporates influences from Hong Kong actions based on Mikkelsen’s preferences. Known for his stunt work, Mikkelsen has long admired Bruce Lee, which inspired him to dream of becoming a stuntman as a child. As a result, he was not only involved in coordinating the stunts, but also performed many impressive action sequences himself.

Even though horror is one of Dust Bunny’s genres, it might be the cutest horror you’ve ever seen. There are no gruesome bodies, jump scares, or terrifying images, just your imagination manipulating fear throughout the movie. In addition, moviegoers will find themselves laughing often, although Dust Bunny isn’t a comedy. It’s this kind of dark humor that draws audiences into its fantasy world.

Of course, Dust Bunny isn’t perfect. Its ending feels too easy and arrives too quickly, lacking sufficient buildup or preparation. Still, as Fuller’s first picture, it already offers moviegoers an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Picture Credit: Cai Chang International Inc.