The Dust Factory

PG

2004

1 hr. 39 min.

Kids & Family

Drama

List

9%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley), a teenage boy who hasn't spoken since the death of his father, winds up in a fantastical realm after nearly drowning in an accident. In this limbo world, Ryan once again talks, and he is reunited with his Grandpa Randolph (Armin Mueller-Stahl). Ryan also befriends Melanie Lewis (Hayden Panettiere), who provides him with additional emotional support. Will Ryan and Melanie be able to move beyond the transitional realm, and, if so, where will they end up?

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Audience Member

Very strange movie. I found it difficult to sink my teeth into it

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Just believe before you look. Ryan was involved in a horrible accident one day that left him scarred and a bit of a recluse. He doesn't like to hang out with other kids and he doesn't talk much, only to his friend Rocky. One day is grandmother dies and he starts thinking if that is the easy way out of his troubles. His grandfather tells him a tale of The Dust Factory where he mentally escapes and ultimately may help him deal with his problems. Once in the Dust Factory he meets a girl, Melanie, who teaches him he'll need to leap to live life and not just let it pass him by. "If there wasn't a God...that would be harsh." Eric Small, director of the 10,000 Days television series and the upcoming 10,000 Days movie, delivers The Dust Factory in his directorial debut. The storyline for this picture is a bit eccentric but definitely fun to watch unfold. I did enjoy the characters but the dialogue was a bit plain. The settings were cool and unique and the acting was pretty good. The cast includes Peter Horton, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Kelley, Kim Meyers, and Michael Angarano. "Grandpa doesn't even know that grandma is gone." I grabbed The Dust Factory off Netflix as a movie my daughter and I could watch together. Unfortunately, she's only 5 and this was about to fall off Netflix online so we watched it last weekend (she wasn't overly interested and probably felt this was a "daddy movie"). I will say the ultimate evolution of the main character was worth following but the overall film was very average and kind of blah. I do recommend watching this once, but this isn't on the level of My Girl or Stand by Me. "I'm definitely not big on jumping." Grade: C+

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting philosophical musings. And very weird altogether.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was intriguing at the start but it just did not keep me watching. I could not finish watching it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A charming and magical story with solid and powerful performances from it's main cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie kind of took fantasy and magic and threw it at a wall.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Eric Small

Director

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Grandpa Randolph

Hayden Panettiere

Melanie Lewis

Ryan Kelley

Ryan Flynn

Kim Myers

Angie

Michael Angarano

Rocky Mazzelli

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Kevin Crust

Los Angeles Times

A tedious, precious fantasy about a boy faced with choosing between life and death -- an endless existence in limbo is actually more like it.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 20, 2004

Full Review

Connie Ogle

Miami Herald

It could use a better title, although this awful one certainly captures the film's tedium.

Rated: 1/4

Oct 15, 2004

Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt

Hollywood Reporter

A well-intentioned but unconvincing fable.

Oct 14, 2004

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

It's all very whimsical and fluffy, but the bottom line is, who cares?

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 26, 2005

Full Review

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

I was rooting for the motes.

Rated: 0/4

Oct 26, 2004

Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson

Dallas Observer

one of the most original and imaginative children's films in a long time.

Oct 22, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley), a teenage boy who hasn't spoken since the death of his father, winds up in a fantastical realm after nearly drowning in an accident. In this limbo world, Ryan once again talks, and he is reunited with his Grandpa Randolph (Armin Mueller-Stahl). Ryan also befriends Melanie Lewis (Hayden Panettiere), who provides him with additional emotional support. Will Ryan and Melanie be able to move beyond the transitional realm, and, if so, where will they end up?

Director: Eric Small
Executive Producer: Erika Lockridge
Screenwriter: Eric Small
Production Co: Bahr Productions Inc.
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Scary Images)
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.0K
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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