The Dust Factory

I'm sixteen and I just watched this movie. I didn't really understand the plot. It felt too slow and just had no point. In some ways, it was boring because everything was too perfect. I didn't really understand the whole thing with the circus and the black hole. The only thing I understood was that the grandpa lost his Alzheimer's when he was in the place between heaven and earth and he became friends with the girl. This movie made absolutely no sense. Someone reviewed that this movie was original, but I've seen ten million other movies like this. They go to a new world which is perfect, but they have to go back. There's also the "loss of a loved one" element in this movie. I'm hoping that one of these days the people writing scripts will create an understandable and original movie.

RELEASED IN 2004 and directed by Eric Small, "The Dust Factory" is a drama/family/fantasy about two young teens (Ryan Kelley and Hayden Panettiere) and the boy's grandfather (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who enter into a strange dimension parallel to the real world. Will they live or will they die?

Imagine mixing "Carnival of Souls" (1962) and "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (1983) with DC Comic's Strange Sports Stories and you'd have a good idea of this movie. Being a family-friendly film, it lacks horror, but there are enough strange things going on and it arguably borders on horror.

The relationship between Melanie (Panettiere) and Ryan (Kelley) is the heart of the story, with Gramps offering sage counsel. While it's neither great nor bad, seeing Panettiere when she was so young (14 during shooting) is a treat. She's just a joy to watch. Moreover, there are some imaginative visuals, like the teens in the field with the circus tent in the background, and the story certainly reaches for depth in its reflections on the nature of death and bereavement.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hours & 20 minutes and was shot in Oregon (Portland, Hillsboro & Mount Hood).

GRADE: B-/C+

The Dust Factory is a very cute fantasy film that obviously comes from the heart. Young Ryan has been scarred by the death of his father, and no longer speaks. An accident transports him to a fantastic world called The Dust Factory, where Ryan regains his voice. He is soon reunited with his Grandpa, whose Alzheimer's keeps him from communicating in the real world. Ryan also meets the precocious Mel, an adorable tomboy who idolizes Peter Pan. The relationship between Mel and Ryan is the core of the film, with Grandpa providing sage advice. This film has very "indie" production values, but it is very ambitious for a small budget film, and the special effects come off well. The writer/director obviously wanted to tell this story, and hard work pays off in a very enjoyable independent fantasy film.

My son and I really enjoyed this film. We went to this movie quite by accident - had never heard of it - but was rated PG! How rare is that in this day and age?

The subject matter is deeper then most kids movies - the understanding of pain, losing people we love, and taking that pain to live life and love life to its fullest, not closing up to die. While this may sound like a downer it is not, the characters learn to embrace and recapture their lives in a very upbeat way.

I think one user said sappy - true. But, personally, isn't it nice to watch a film that is uplifting and makes one think about life, and pain, and living - whether you are 9, like my son, or an adult?

Also, this movie has a certain forgein film quality to it. In my opinion.

I just picked up this movie off the shelf because the title was interesting. I had never heard of it before. So I didn't know what to expect. It was really a surprise to find that it was good. We enjoyed it very much. The two main characters were very likable. I wish that they had gone into a little more detail of the circumstances of why they were at the factory but overall a good story about learning to deal with your fears and moving on with your life.

In this world of the big movies with lots of action, drama, sex, it was very sweet. Great family movie with lots to discuss after it is over. Give it a try.