“Bunny” Is A Gritty Drama That Puts An Exclamation Mark on New York City Living

Courtesy of Vertical

Bunny is both disturbing and dream-like. We’re dealing with dead bodies and flirtatious parties. It is comfortable but yet emotionally heavy in ways you’d never expect it to be.

At its core, Bunny is a microcosm of the East Village on a very, very busy summer day. The characters, the situations, the camera movements . . . it’s nothing more than a euphoric whirlwind of feelings. Albeit, Ben Jacobson’s first time directing does take just a little bit of time to form. Once it starts to ramp up with the momentum - even in the slightest - you are taken. You are rightfully swept up in the story and taken on a ride you’ll never forget.

Most of this movie takes place inside an old but still functional tenement building (as is usually the case in New York City) and for someone like Jacobson whose first time behind the camera is with a film like Bunny, the end result is truly astonishing. While crafting together the viewer’s experience, this new director has to consistently deal with sharp turns, awkward positioning and small spaces.

Instead of succumbing under pressure and trying to steer the camera away from these possible deterrents, he leaps into the chaos head-first - purposely keeping the low hanging roofs inside the shot to create a sense of tightened intimacy between the assorted dwellers and visually getting up close and personal with characters whenever possible to emphasize their reactions and interactions.

Played by rising star Mo Stark, Bunny is not only the name of the movie but also the name of the multi-faceted main character. He has the build of a professional wrestler, the mindset of a devil-may-care hustler and the sensitivity of a monk in a world gone mad. He’s the type of man to help his neighbors . . . while also trying to keep his own secrets from coming to the surface. When one of his jobs goes awry, the consequences come back to confront him at home.

Bunny then goes from being just a random slice of life to a number of complex schemes dealing in survival. The film is gritty - and low to the ground - but not dark. At first, that was hard to digest since I usually like my movies to incorporate both adjectives. But, the film has this clever way of showing people being whimsical in an increasingly warped situation. They are all diverse, heartfelt characters (and actors) who help to cut through the tension of this perplexing day.

Alongside Bunny, there is his partner Bobbie, his best friend Dino, Bobbie’s dad Loren, friendly fellow tenants Linda, Ian and Franklin, Bunny’s airbnb occupant Happy Chana, Bobbie’s assorted friends and a rabbi (who Happy Chana calls to help her get adjusted in this new environment). It gets to a point where instead of feeling on edge - even with downfall right around the corner - you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Instead of relying on cultural stereotypes to entertain viewers, the combination of cast and script makes the people on-screen come alive with distinct personalities and style.

Navigating all the heavy handed situations that pop up - like snooping cops who won’t go away, a hectic party downstairs and a persistent but troubled youth, each member of this scooby-doo like gang all have ample time to have memorable moments. The most stand out performances (aside from Mr. Stark) have to come from Mr. Jacobson (himself who plays Dino), Linda Rong Mei Chen’s Linda and Anthony Drazan’s Loren.

Along with Stark and Jacobson who convey a perfect brotherhood, Mr. Drazan’s awkward father figure - who’s willing to do anything to be welcomed - is nothing but charming when participating in corpse removal hijinks. Mei Chen is perfect as the little play-by-play commentator in the room, knee deep in the plan, urging on our protagonists - by constantly and adorably throwing out orders.

Dino helps Happy Chana to calm down. Loren knocks at the door. Bunny is trying to find Bobbie. We glide in and out of these events seamlessly through a shaky cam. We also quietly float in the corner of the hallway when the group rapidly tries to formulate a plan for the deceased - who is just laying there for all to see. There are times, even, when the apartment windows are glazed over with a single color forcing you to keep focus on what’s front and center. That was a nice environmental touch.

Along with these creative liberties, the magic of Bunny is found through the relationships therein - people coming together for an (odd) common cause and how all these different personalities deal with conflict in their own ways. As the night comes to a close, this NYC adventure does too and it leaves me with a gaping hole - I wanted to keep Bunny, Bobbie, Dino and the rest of them around for as long as possible. That’s how I knew this was a great movie.

I will give Bunny a 5 out of 5. Besides being screened at this year’s SXSW and Tribeca Film Festival, Bunny will be in theaters and available to rent at home on November 14th (through Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home). Film distribution company Vertical will handle the worldwide rights to the movie.