fwomp THE DUST FACTORY is more of a tween film than one for younger kids. Dealing with sensitive subjects on life, death, love, and sex, parents should be forewarned that this isn't some feel-good Disney flick (although it has some of its elements).The story is that of Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley), a boy coming into his teens who is a self-imposed mute. He doesn't speak just because he doesn't want to; he witnessed a horrible accident that claimed his father's life several years ago and hasn't uttered a word since, much to the dismay of his mother (Kim Myers) and stepfather (Peter Horton). His grandfather (Armin Mueller-Stahl) lives with them but suffers from the end stages of Alzheimer's, not even realizing that his wife has passed on. Ryan's best friend Rocky (Michael Angarano, 24 TV series) understands his muteness and doesn't pressure him, just lets him be. Until one day they're crossing an old train bridge and Ryan falls through into the murky water below.When he resurfaces, everything has changed. Rocky is nowhere to be seen. His home is empty with the exception of his grandfather ...who can now talk! And so can Ryan! Learning that he's in some sort of limbo, Ryan soon befriends a pretty young girl his own age named Melanie (Hayden Panettiere) who shows him the ropes of this unique place. Taking him to the big-top where some freakish mimes play out the fate of people's afterlife, Ryan learns that once you take the plunge on the trapeze, things will never be the same. You either "move on"or you return to the Dust Factory (i.e., life as you knew it before limbo).Battling his uncomfortable past, Ryan often sees railroad tracks blocking his way (his father was killed at a railroad crossing) and must force himself to move onward instead of looking back. He is helped tremendously by his tricky grandfather and, initially, by Melanie. But grandpa can't stay in this place forever, a sad but necessary thing, while Melanie refuses to leave (will she become a mime herself if she never leaves?) Ryan battles for Melanie's soul as much as his own and soon comes to terms with what it means to live life to its fullest.Although exceptionally predictable and not very well acted, the bizarre afterlife world created here makes for some interesting post-film discussion with your tweens. Parents will be able to ask their kids what they think the mimes represented. And why was it necessary for the grandfather to move on.It's a mixed bag as far as films go, but the creepiness of the big-top and its dark tones make up for many of its faults.

Peter Schooley (demonhunterbob) I believe that in this era of film, it is extremely difficult to find a movie below a PG-13 rating that measures up to my expectations of a story in film. This movie met those expectations.When I first saw this movie on the shelf at WalMart, I thought it was a cheap kids film, like something the Disney Channel would make. I've seen my share of crappy Disney Channel movies, being an older brother, and trust me, this is far greater than anything they could do.I rarely bother to even look at movies below a PG-13, because they lack realism. This story moved me, because it was so real to me.This movie, while on the low budget independent side of things, is a wonderful film and story. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Drama or Fantasy, and doubts the capability of a PG rating

TxMike I had not heard of this movie but came across it at my public library. It seemed like an interesting, enchanting story, my wife and I watched it last night along with a teenage neighbor. While we enjoyed it, most of the time we were puzzled by what was shown and what was said. We weren't sure what the point was, but in the end it probably can be summed up, 'If you are afraid of dying, then you probably also are afraid of living.'Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley) has just lost his grandma, had already lost his dad in a train accident, and now his grandfather was incoherent. Traumatized, young Ryan no longer spoke, although he could have. In an unusual sequence he meets a pretty and happy girl Melanie (Hayden Panattiere) in his somewhat familiar surroundings, but things just aren't the way they seem to be. What follows is Ryan's examination of his fears of dying.SPOILERS. The incident that begins the journey into the 'dust factory', a place where you can either jump off the trapeze and get caught, then fly away (die and go to heaven), or fall into the dust pit and return to normal life, is when Ryan falls off a train bridge into the water. When he surfaces and goes home, grandpa is now lucid, and Melanie is there too. But this is not his real world, it is more a purgatory. Grandpa is really incoherent, Melanie we learn later is in a coma, and Ryan is about to drown. When grandpa dies, Ryan and Melanie recover to the real world, where they don't quite remember what happened at the 'dust factory', but seem to know something good has happened.

night_hunter1200 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.