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The Dust Factory

Play trailer Poster for The Dust Factory PG 2004 1h 39m Kids & Family Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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9% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
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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The Dust Factory

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Crust Los Angeles Times 10/20/2004
2/5
A tedious, precious fantasy about a boy faced with choosing between life and death -- an endless existence in limbo is actually more like it. Go to Full Review Kirk Honeycutt The Hollywood Reporter 10/14/2004
A well-intentioned but unconvincing fable. Go to Full Review Nancy Churnin Dallas Morning News 10/14/2004
C
It would have made a much more powerful short than full-length movie. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 06/26/2005
1.5/4
It's all very whimsical and fluffy, but the bottom line is, who cares? Go to Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central 10/26/2004
0/4
I was rooting for the motes. Go to Full Review Luke Y. Thompson Dallas Observer 10/22/2004
one of the most original and imaginative children's films in a long time. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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10/10/2015 Very strange movie. I found it difficult to sink my teeth into it See more 07/04/2014 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+ See more 03/08/2014 Interesting philosophical musings. And very weird altogether. See more 07/04/2013 It was intriguing at the start but it just did not keep me watching. I could not finish watching it. See more 01/10/2013 A charming and magical story with solid and powerful performances from it's main cast. See more 12/14/2012 This movie kind of took fantasy and magic and threw it at a wall. See more Read all reviews
The Dust Factory

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Dust Factory

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Tani Cohen, Eric Small
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
Runtime
1h 39m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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