This 2025 New York-Based Single-Location Thriller-Drama Is A Hidden Gem

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Last year was exceptional for movies, delivering several films that could become classics. This strong year in cinema is setting the stage for a particularly competitive Oscar race in 2026, as many outstanding films are vying for awards, making it hard to predict the winners.

It’s no surprise that the 2026 Oscars left out some well-loved films to highlight others. While people will continue to discuss the snubs, they really show how many excellent movies came out in 2025 – it was simply a year with too much great content to choose from, making it hard to pick only the absolute best.

It’s not just during awards season – 2025 had a surprising number of excellent, lesser-known films. With so many great movies released, it was surprisingly easy to discover an underrated gem. Even the films that didn’t get much attention are still worth watching and deserve recognition.

Bunny Is A Chaotically Structured Thriller

The film Bunny, directed by and starring Ben Jacobson, tells the story of a gigolo named Bunny (played by Mo Stark). After a difficult experience with a client, Bunny accidentally kills a man while defending himself. Stark also co-wrote the screenplay with Jacobson and Stefan Marolachakis.

The film Bunny initially suggests a tense thriller about how Bunny’s neighbors help him hide a body while avoiding police detection. However, despite its short 87-minute length, the movie unfolds as a farcical comedy of mistakes rather than a fast-paced, suspenseful story.

It’s difficult to explain all the unexpected events that interrupt the main story, but surprisingly, they don’t make things more confusing. Instead, these moments allow us to learn more about the characters and how they grow. The movie feels slow and thoughtful, even though the characters are facing a pressing problem with limited time to solve it.

Bunny Is Set In A Single Apartment Building

As a thriller fan, I’ve always been fascinated by movies that mostly take place in one location – it instantly cranks up the tension, because you’re stuck right there with the characters. But Bunny is different. Instead of feeling trapped, the apartment building actually becomes a weird kind of safe haven. It’s where everyone can hide from the police, and more importantly, from the danger Bunny’s dangerous client is bringing down on them.

The apartment setting creates a sense of safety, allowing the characters to relax and show their true selves. This makes even the most dramatic scenes in Bunny feel hopeful rather than stressful. There’s an underlying belief that everything will be okay because this close-knit group looks after each other, functioning like a family and shielding one another from danger.

Running Gags Complement Bunny’s Pacing

Within the first ninety minutes, the film Bunny cleverly introduces its characters and uses recurring jokes to create both funny and suspenseful moments. These characters are the driving force behind the movie’s unpredictable and chaotic plot. Even though one character is constantly under the influence, they don’t always make the worst choices, which keeps the story interesting.

It’s always surprising to see how each character’s unique personality and motivations can unexpectedly change the course of events and disrupt Bunny’s carefully laid plans. This constant shifting between storylines, schemes, and viewpoints keeps viewers engaged, even when the main plot isn’t moving forward quickly. Beyond helping (or hindering) Bunny, each character has their own personal struggles, and their distinctive designs make the show’s deliberate pace feel worthwhile.

Bunny Follows A Diverse Group Of Characters

The apartment building where Bunny lives perfectly captures the diversity of New York City, with residents of all genders, races, ages, and sexual orientations. What makes the movie stand out – and truly inclusive – is that it avoids making the characters simply represent their communities. Instead, the story focuses on how each character contributes to Bunny’s schemes.

The movie feels welcoming and inclusive, much like the cozy apartment where the character Bunny lives. It captures the feeling of finding connection and kindness – that sense of someone always being willing to offer a helping hand, spend time with you, or simply share something they enjoy. This adds a genuine warmth to the story.

Bunny’s Main Theme Is Found Family

I was really struck by how, despite being about covering up a death, Bunny is actually a beautiful story about people coming together. It’s amazing how these characters, who don’t really know each other’s lives, are all connected as neighbors, always willing to help one another. It just warmed my heart to see how readily everyone Bunny asked for assistance jumped in – it felt so genuine and lovely.

What I love most about the found family in this story is how different everyone is, yet they all fit together so well. It was surprisingly heartwarming to see even the police officers, who initially caused trouble and even complicated things with the… situation, become part of the group. They really stepped up to protect everyone, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up joining the party too! It just shows how accepting and inclusive this little community is.

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2026-02-06 16:02