Mads Mikkelsen is reuniting with the “monstrous mind” behind Hannibal for the new horror movie Dust Bunny, which just released its first trailer. Dusty Bunny follows a mercenary of sorts (Mikkelsen) who is hired by a young girl (Sophie Sloan) to kill what she believes is the monster under her bed, which killed her parents.
Aside from leading the NBC horror prequel to The Silence of the Lambs in the role once famously played by the legendary Anthony Hopkins, the Danish actor has received many accolades and is known for movies including The Hunt, Another Round, and Doctor Strange. He is partnered on-screen in Dust Bunny with newcomer Sophia Sloan, as well as a three-time Oscar nominee.
Dust Bunny also stars Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Rebecca Henderson, and Sheila Atim. It is written and directed by Bryan Fuller, the creator of the Hannibal TV series. Check out the first trailer for Dust Bunny below, coming to theaters on December 12:
Fuller is a horror icon thanks to Hannibal, but is a seasoned TV writer across genres, credited as a writer for Star Trek: Voyager and the creator of Star Trek: Discovery and Pushing Daisies. Dust Bunny is Fuller’s feature directorial debut.
What This Means For Dust Bunny
Dust Bunny looks like an ambitious combination of movies we’ve seen before — namely, any horror that plays with the concept of a child’s fantasies, friendly or dangerous, coming to life, mixed in with the John Wick and The Equalizer type vigilante narrative. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, as the trailer advertises the premise well.
Movies that purport to offer something meaningful by putting a new spin on a fairy tale can easily go awry when they’re not actually too clever. Dust Bunny could be this when it’s obviously leaning into the “humans are the real monsters theme.” But the new collaboration of Hannibal talent will draw in some viewers and probably result in some satisfying moments.
Our Take On Dust Bunny’s Trailer
A surprisingly impactful part of the Dust Bunny trailer is the dynamic between the jaded vigilante and the young believer, which could be the fresh element this movie needs to stand out and have a successful run. Sloan has few on-screen credits but is memorable in this brief sequence for her character’s relative level-headedness, apparently having managed to find Mikkelsen’s character on her own.
Dust Bunny risks running into some clichés, but also has enough uniqueness so far. Fuller could have a rough start when it comes to his film career, but he is clearly a talented writer and may simply need to get through multiple projects before really striking gold in the film world. In the meantime, Dust Bunny looks like something his longtime fans will enjoy.
