Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller makes his feature debut with this dark, but family-friendly take on the monster under your bed.
Young Aurora (Sophie Sloan) is terrified of the monster under her bed, much to the amusement of her foster parents. When she hears some noises one night, she sneaks out of the house to spy on her intriguingly unnamed neighbour in flat 5B (Mads Mikkelsen). She witnesses him battle and slay a ferocious dragon (actually the type used in Chinese New Year celebrations), so naturally, she thinks he can sort out her monster problem. Scraping together some money, she approaches him to hire his services. Humouring her, he becomes her protector as the beast under the bed wreaks havoc in the house, particularly when the mob boss (David Dastmalchian) of the crew the neighbour beat the night before comes along for vengeance.
Mikkelsen is masterfully understated in the role of hitman-turned-monster slayer. The relationship between Aurora, fearless with her protector by her side, and the neighbour is evocative of Luc Besson’s Leon, only on a much more wholesome level. Young Sloan proves that not all child actors are precocious brats, delivering an endearing performance. Sigourney Weaver makes her presence felt with some awesome stiletto pistols.
From the dialogue-free opening to the floorboard-shaking conclusion, Fuller’s lush visuals captivate. The apartment complex features colourful rooms and a classic central elevator, all shot in a lush, sweeping style. And despite the action being very much teen-friendly, there’s still a fair bit of violence, and the monster could still be terrifying for younger tykes.
DUST BUNNY is out now in the US.
