Running Time: 89 Minutes
Starring: Kate Wilson, Andy Golledge, Saxon Cook, Ôntrei, Charlotte Chimes, Paul Hughes
Making his feature debut with Bunny Rabbit, writer/director James Branson opens with CCTV footage of firefighters at work. Ominous music plays over the scene as smoke enters the screen, darkening things as vehicles drive away from the overwhelming fire. Natures fury is on display, setting the scene for this climate-collapsed Australia where bodies hang from telephone poles, and a man called Jimmy (Paul Hughes) rules the landscape with his scavengers of men, and harem of women.
It's all part of this post-apocalyptic landscape. where a young woman called Bunny (Kate Wilson) survives alone in the shack that she once shared with her now-deceased father. Supplies are scarce, food is running out, and there is nothing left to hunt. One day, she picks up an inquisitive hitchhiker (Saxon Cook), and the pair make a plan to steal from Jimmy. This promises to be the start of a compelling partnership, but that promise brutally ends when Bunny decides that her next meal will be the hitchhiker.
What Branson crafts is a dystopian coming-of-age tale with a slice of cannibalism. While the elements can feel derivative, the handling is compelling and unnerving. Flashbacks allow an insight into the earlier days of this world, when Bunny lived with her father (Andy Golledge). He teaches her to play the guitar, she watches what B-movies they own on video, and they theorise which celebrities are likely to be witches. There is a sense of happiness in the mundane, but it cannot last in this world where it is a struggle to find untaken supplies.
Andy Golledge puts a gentle performance into The Father, capturing this man longing for what was lost and lamenting things that his daughter will never get to experience. He also captures the father's worsening mental health, an early indicator of this harsh reality shattering the joy in the mundane. This is emphasised by the camerawork, knowing when to effectively let tension build by having the camera linger, and otherwise utilising fluid movements. A hypnotic score helps to craft something haunting, emphasising a worsening mindset through shrill tones. These technical efforts help to make this tale stand out amidst similar works.
Central to this story is Bunny, the titular character. She is not a big talker following her father's death, but quite a bit is conveyed with a look. Kate Wilson's performance effectively brings alive this lost soul hardened by the cruel existence that she is trapped inside. The character grows into her own, accepting the hard choices that she must enact to survive, including accepting her hunger for human flesh. A special mention is deserved for The Intruder (Ôntrei), an enigmatic figure who loves hearing himself talk. He leaves viewers on a knifes edge as we don't know what he wants, but fear its reveal.
By the end of this story, there is a mutual understanding of what human nature has transformed into within this hardened landscape. The carefree days are now a distant memory, humanity has become warped beyond recognition, and that is an accepted part of this existence. A character study dripping in visceral dread, Bunny Rabbit is a fantastic debut.
Bunny Rabbit made its UK Premiere at FrightFest 2026
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