The Dust Factory (2004)

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+

I'm probably going to be in the minority here, but I don't think this film works. And it's a shame because it's a variation on a genre that I like a lot: someone gets a chance to see what life would have been if they had made other choices ("Peggy Sue Got Married," "Me, Myself & I" with Rachel Griffiths, etc.).The first half of "Dust Factory" sucked me right in: the teenage boy is a fascinating character (he doesn't speak -- that's not really a spoiler because it comes out in the first 10 minutes), the dialogue is good (the give and take with the young people is surprisingly believable) and the performances are strong, especially considering how young most of the cast is. (And don't forget: any film with Armin Mueller-Stahl is worth at least a look-see.) But about halfway through, I started getting impatient because I realized I wasn't learning anything by living through their experience. I knew the characters were learning because they told us they were -- but I wasn't experiencing it with them. The best play or film makes the viewer look at the world in a different way. You feel you've learned something about yourself and about people in general. For example, at the end of "Peggy Sue Got Married," I had an insight about how we make choices in life. "Dust Factory" tells us things, but it doesn't let us experience them. The ending is actually kind of nice, but what leads up to it, for me, just doesn't work.

I thought this movie was very good. It is kind of like a movie about choices and also about faith. It kept saying that we need faith in order to make the choices that could change the lives of a lot of other people. Also the way Hayden's character didn't know what to do while she was in the Dust Factory. I must say that this movie was very inspirational and it helped me figure out a lot of things in my life. The people who say this movie is lame or boring or stupid for any reason don't know what good movies are. Just because it doesn't have exploding cars or big romantic love scenes doesn't mean it is a stupid movie. For being a family film it was sure sweet and had a very deep meaning. I really enjoy movies that I have to watch more than once to understand the meaning. I just have to conclude by saying that although not my favorite movie it is sure up there on the top ten list.

This movie discusses topics that may not be understood by all ages, but are certainly suitable for all ages. The basic question of what is life's purpose is a central theme. The movie brings up the notion that life is not a problem to be solved, but rather something to be experienced; finding paradise and total bliss comes at a price, but must be paid. The movie's theme is something that is rarely touched on by most mainstream films, now dominated by empty action films.The acting was superb. Armin Mueller-Stahl played the guiding, grandfather very well; and Ryan Kelley is easily identified with his character. The filming location in Oregon was beautiful, and fits the film perfectly. In addition, the soundtrack fits scenes well. The plot however at times seems slow, and there seems to be periods of confusion when the audience has to guess what is happening if they missed a single line.Overall, this movie presents ideas that an entire family should consider, while at the same time presenting it in a new and innovative way. It definitely will reshape your view on life.