TV legend Bryan Fuller, known for his cult classic television series like “Pushing Daisies” and “Hannibal,” just earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature, for his film “Dust Bunny.” It’s somehow a surprise that the well-known TV creator just directed his first film, after spending almost three decades working in television, on series like “Dead Like Me” and “American Gods.” Now, he turns to the world of indie film, reuniting with actor Mads Mikkelsen, his Hannibal Lecter, on the dark fairy tale “Dust Bunny.”

Fuller has a thing for idioms, exploring these tropes to their most extreme ends (e.g., “pushing daisies”), and so in “Dust Bunny,” he imagines what those bits of fluff could be if our nightmares came to life. He also posits an outlandish notion: what if a kid hired an assassin to kill the monster under her bed?

Aurora (Sophia Sloan) is an imaginative young girl who hears things that roar and scream in the night, the dust bunny under her bed a ravenous, monstrous thing. When her parents go missing, she’s convinced they’ve been eaten by the monster bunny, and seeks out the services of an “intriguing neighbor” (Mikkelsen, that’s how he’s credited), whom she has seen vanquishing dragons in the alley outside. With a fee that she purloins from a church collection plate, she implores him for help, and he agrees, as he learns more about this young girl’s challenging childhood.

At first, “Dust Bunny” feels a little light, the story skittering across its densely designed surface, with very little dialogue in the first half. But it grows and grows, more bits and pieces of story accumulating together as Fuller reveals this strange, heightened world. We meet Intriguing Neighbor’s handler Laverne (Sigourney Weaver), revealing the larger, Wick-ian world of killers that he inhabits. Wicked Laverne chomps through her scenes like the monster bunny chomps through the floorboards — literally, as she consumes charcuterie, dumplings and “suckling pig tea sandwiches” with gusto. Indeed, some monsters are seated across the table, Cheshire cat grinning in florals.

The film is essentially “Leon: The Professional” meets “Amelie” (one of Fuller’s favorite films), but with his distinct wit and flair. But that style also means that “Dust Bunny” is quite fussy and mannered, and if you don’t buy in on the film’s arch humor and stylized world, you’re liable to bounce right off of it. As Fuller opens the world up, revealing a sly FBI agent (Sheila Atim) and more and more baddies (David Dastmalchian, Rebecca Henderson), the story becomes more intriguing beyond its unwieldy childhood trauma metaphor, but there’s also not quite enough embroidered on this tapestry. It feels shallow, the world only gestured toward, not fleshed out.

Fuller demonstrates a strong command over his visual domain, but the pat allegory he presents about the monsters with whom we have to learn to live feels a bit muddled. Sloan and Mikkelsen are terrific together, but you feel that there is much more they could sink their teeth into here, and perhaps the limits of the story reveal the limits of the budget, carefully wallpapered over with opulent production design — explosions of patterns and color crafted by Jeremy Reed, captured with shadowy but lush cinematography by Nicole Hirsch Whitaker.

Fuller’s foray into film feels like a first feature — a bit of a surprise for someone so experienced. But the project sports his signature style, even if it doesn’t add up to much more than a neat kiddie-centric hard R genre exercise.

‘Dust Bunny’

2 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for some violence)

Running time: 1:46

How to watch: In theaters Dec. 12

Related Articles

The best mystery novels of 2025

ABC signs Jimmy Kimmel to a one-year contract extension, months after temporary suspension

Paramount goes hostile in bid for Warner Bros., challenging a $72 billion offer by Netflix

‘One Battle After Another’ leads Golden Globe nominations, while ‘Wicked: For Good’ falters

Trump says Netflix deal to buy Warner Bros. ‘could be a problem’ because of size of market share

By MEG KINNARD

The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of events like White House press briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” part of a lawsuit seeking to require the White House to provide the services.

Department of Justice attorneys haven’t elaborated on how doing so might hamper the portrayal President Donald Trump seeks to present to the public. But overturning policies encompassing diversity, equity and inclusion have become a hallmark of his second administration, starting with his very first week back in the White House.

The National Association for the Deaf sued the Trump administration in May, arguing that the cessation of American Sign Language interpretation — which the Biden administration had used regularly — represented “denying hundreds of thousands of deaf Americans meaningful access to the White House’s real-time communications on various issues of national and international import.” The group also sued during Trump’s first administration, seeking ASL interpretation for briefings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a June court filing opposing the association’s request for a preliminary injunction, reported Thursday by Politico, attorneys for the Justice Department argued that being required to provide sign language interpretation for news conferences “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” also writing that the president has “the prerogative to shape his Administration’s image and messaging as he sees fit.”

Government attorneys also argued that it provides the hard of hearing or Deaf community with other ways to access the president’s statements, like online transcripts of events, or closed captioning. The administration has also argued that it would be difficult to wrangle such services in the event that Trump spontaneously took questions from the press, rather than at a formal briefing.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately comment Friday on the ongoing lawsuit or answer questions about the administration’s argument regarding the damage of interpretation services to Trump’s “image.”

Related Articles

Admiral hands over leadership of command overseeing the Trump administration’s boat strikes

Trump sued by preservationists seeking architecture review over White House ballroom project

House Democrats release photos of Trump, Clinton and Andrew from Epstein’s estate

Trump led Republicans to power in 2024. But 2026 could be a different story

Trump pardons former Colorado elections clerk, but it alone won’t free her from prison

Last month, a federal judge rejected that and other objections from the government, issuing an order requiring the White House to provide American Sign Language interpreting for Trump and Leavitt’s remarks in real time. The White House has appealed the ruling, and while the administration has begun providing American Sign Language interpreting at some events, there’s disagreement over what services it has to supply.

On his first week back in office, Trump signed a sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government. In putting his own imprint on the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in January issued an order stating that DEI policies were “incompatible” with the department’s mission,

This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered diplomatic correspondence to return to the more traditional Times New Roman font, arguing that the Biden administration’s 2023 shift to the sans serif Calibri font had emerged from misguided diversity, equity and inclusion policies pursued by his predecessor.

By JOSHUA GOODMAN

DORAL, Fla. (AP) — A U.S. Navy admiral who oversees military operations in Latin America handed off command responsibilities Friday as scrutiny increases over the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on alleged drug boats in the region.

Related Articles

Trump administration says sign language services ‘intrude’ on Trump’s ability to control his image

Trump sued by preservationists seeking architecture review over White House ballroom project

House Democrats release photos of Trump, Clinton and Andrew from Epstein’s estate

Trump led Republicans to power in 2024. But 2026 could be a different story

Trump pardons former Colorado elections clerk, but it alone won’t free her from prison

Adm. Alvin Holsey has retired one year into a posting that typically lasts three to four years and transferred leadership duties to his top military deputy, Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus, during a ceremony at U.S. Southern Command headquarters near Miami.

In farewell remarks, Holsey did not mention the military operations or the reasons for his early retirement. But he urged his successor to uphold longstanding partnerships in the region by standing firmly behind the shared values of democracy and support for the rule of law.

“To be a trusted partner, we must be credible, present and engaged,” Holsey said.

Holsey’s shock retirement was announced by the Pentagon in October, over a month into the Trump administration’s strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean that have killed at least 87 people. With the campaign facing growing scrutiny by Congress, Holsey briefed key lawmakers earlier this week.

The ceremony Friday was more subdued than past retirements, held outdoors amid a small crowd of mostly Southern Command staff and without Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, because President Donald Trump has yet to nominate Holsey’s replacement.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made no mention of the military operations in Latin America as he thanked Holsey on for his 37 years of service. Caine referred to Holsey as a “stoic” leader and “quiet professional” who always leads with his heart and head.

“It’s never been about you, it’s been about people, it’s been about others,” Caine said. “You’ve never said ‘I’ in all the conversations we’ve had. You’ve always said ‘we.’ … The impact you’ve had will last for a long time.”

Holsey is departing as Congress has launched bipartisan investigations into the boat attacks, including one that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth and other top officials have given classified briefings at Capitol Hill this week.

Holsey also spoke this week to key lawmakers overseeing the U.S. military by classified video call. Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said afterward that Holsey answered senators’ questions but that “there are still many questions to be answered.” Reed later added that Holsey did not give a reason for his retirement other than saying it was a personal decision.

Experts in the rules of warfare, human rights groups and even some of Trump’s allies in Congress have questioned the legality of the attacks on those accused of ferrying drugs who for decades were arrested at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard and brought to the U.S. for criminal prosecution.

The 22 strikes against vessels are being supported by a giant flotilla of warships, attack helicopters, thousands of troops and even the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier.

Trump’s Republican administration has defended its aggressive tactics, declaring drug gangs in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico as “narcoterrorists” and relying on a legal argument that gained traction after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that the U.S. is in armed conflict with drug cartels.

The administration’s campaign has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States. In a sharp escalation Wednesday, U.S. forces seized control of a sanctioned oil tanker that the administration has accused of smuggling illicit crude. Sale of that oil on global energy markets is critical to Maduro’s grip on power.

Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office.

Holsey’s departure is the latest in a long line of firings and sudden retirements that have befallen the military’s top ranks since Hegseth took charge of the Pentagon.

A fighter jet pilot, with combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, Pettus had been serving as Holsey’s top deputy since late 2024. However, it’s unclear how long the Arkansas native will remain in the job. Whoever Trump nominates must be confirmed by the Senate.

By PETER SMITH

Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah or other transliterations from Hebrew — is Judaism’s “festival of lights.” On eight consecutive nightfalls, Jews gather with family and friends to light one additional candle in the menorah — a multibranched candelabra.

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication.” The holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem nearly 2,200 years ago after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying foreign forces.

With the tiny supply of ritually pure oil that they found in the temple, they lit the menorah. According to the Talmud, it miraculously remained lit for eight days. The ritual of lighting a nightly candle and the emphasis on cooking foods in oil, such as potato pancakes called latkes, memorialize this holiday.

Variations in the starting date

Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

But the Jewish calendar, which is based on lunar cycles, is not in sync with the commonly used Gregorian calendar. Depending on the year, Hanukkah falls at various times between late November and late December.

This year, Hanukkah starts at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, and lasts through Dec. 22.

Traditionally, Hanukkah has not been a major holiday on the Jewish calendar, but it has taken on cultural prominence because it occurs at a time when many other people are preparing for Christmas.

Bringing light into the darkness

Jews across the religious observance spectrum — from Reform to Conservative to Orthodox — focus on the same theme of bringing light into the darkness and emphasizing that even a small, against-the-odds effort can have a transforming effect.

The Talmud, an ancient compendium of commentary and teachings on Jewish law, customs and Scripture, reflects a dispute over the order of lighting. But most people start with one candle and increase the lighting by an additional candle each night while reciting or chanting special blessings.

The candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right on the menorah, thus always starting with the newest light. The special menorah used for Hanukkah has eight branches, with a ninth place for the candle called shamash from which all others are lit.

The tradition calls for candles with a real flame, although some also use electric ones in public displays, such as in hospitals, for safety reasons.

Celebrating by charitable giving and spreading the light

A menorah is lit in each household and traditionally is placed where it can be seen from the outside, such as a doorway or windowsill, to symbolize the spreading of God’s light to all nations.

Related Articles

Church Nativity scenes add zip ties, gas masks and ICE to protest immigration raids

Man who says religious group beat him wants prosecutor removed after long wait for retrial

Court settlement approved for New Orleans Archdiocese to pay hundreds of clergy abuse victims

Pope cancels Holy See fundraising commission announced under questionable circumstances

Washington County, church agree to $7.35M package for Lake Elmo Avenue-Minnesota 36 interchange land

The lighting of menorahs in city streets and parks has become more prominent in recent years in countries around the world, including in front of public landmarks.

In addition to menorah lightings, giving to charity and social works are also part of the celebration for many, reflecting the belief that the Jewish people are called by God to help make the world better for all.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.