The Thing with Feathers

I saw this film tonight and honestly, I absolutely loved it. The characters and the metaphors. It's beautiful to see. Really thought at the start it was going to be more of a horror but the storytelling is keeps you guessing. It's really turbulent in parts which just adds to the empathy you feel for all of the characters and it smooths towards the end for obvious reasons. I think my only worry is that it may show grief as a linear process of coping, which isn't always the case. 9/10. The soundtrack, the acting and the cinematography were all incredible. Definitely worth your time.

The thing with Feathers (based on a novel by Max Porter) is a poetic and symbolic allegory exploring the struggle against grief and the reluctant reconciliation with it, ultimately preventing the descent into despair. The film weaves an atmospheric narrative that blends elements of horror, creating a haunting tension that resonates throughout. A standout feature of the film is the presence of an intriguing figure, an anthropomorphic raven. It is a unique creation that shifts between villain and ally, drawn from the protagonist's artwork.

*** Benedict Cumberbatch delivers an outstanding performance, showcasing his remarkable theatrical depth range. His portrayal captures the emotional depth of the character with nuance, subtlety and vulnerability. Additionally, the performances of the children in the film are very good, complementing Cumberbatch's portrayal and framing the protagonist's journey with precision.

*** The Thing with Feathers is a film that invites reflection. It's a challenging watch-one that demands emotional engagement-but ultimately offers an enriching experience, especially for those eager to witness Cumberbatch's extraordinary performance.

We were really lucky to see him before the viewing of the film in this year's Berlinale.

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a strong and powerful performance throughout this movie, but unfortunately, it's repetitive narrative that explores of themes of grief with many blended elements of different themes, messy direction, and uneven structure becomes more of an exhausting experience rather an emotional experience.

Director Dylan Southern tries to do justice with the original source material that it is based on. Despite it's impactful performance and ambitious approach, Southern struggles with the narrative as many of the themes are repetitive, and it doesn't do really get into the characters very well. Almost as if chooses the Hollywood cliches of how grief is explored and how it is handled.

It's disappointing because I really like the book. But I feel as if the movie doesn't do justice to the material.

Benedict cumberbatch did an excellent job doing the film struggling about his wife's loss he has done a lot of great films in his life like doctor strange and 1917 such a great film but can be unsettling for people and dark horror and violent scenes but Benedict cumberbatch is the best actor ever!!!

Film Title: The Thing With Feathers Director: Dylan Southern Screenwriter: Dylan Southern Based on: Grief is the Thing With Feathers (Max Porter) Production Companies: MK2 Release Date (USA, Sundance): January 25, 2025 Capone's Rating: 4.5⭐ out of 5⭐ Principal Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall

I have to get something off my chest.

Most modern horror fans might take issue with it, but I need to say it.

I've about had it with trauma horror. Protagonists' whose core characteristics are shorthanded with references to abuse, deaths of loved ones, or compounded microaggressions-we can tell horror stories without these elements, you know? And we can build more thoroughly developed characters. And I have enough actual trauma in my own family-in my own personal experience-that I don't want to meet with it every time I enter a movie theater for a horror film.

Okay. All that being said:

The Thing With Feathers is explicitly and directly about grief after the passing of our protagonist's spouse. His two young children, boys, miss their mother-and dad thinks it best to hide his emotions from them for fear of making things worse for everyone. But as we all know from other trauma-infused horror stories, grief deined will manifest as something spooky. The protagonist's reification of emotion is a monstrous thing with feathers-a crow. And he seems to know it's not real, but he responds as though it is, a clear sign of stress- or grief-induced psychosis. And it's not real for us, either. It signifies his pain, and it talks him through it.

To get the right vibe for The Thing With Feathers, think Babadook (2014) with more therapy and the saddest montage since the opening of Up (2009). And despite what I said above about tiring of trauma-inspired horror, Dylan Southern's effort works very well. Benedict Cumberbatch and the Boxalls (Richard and Henry) are fantastic-the latter pair much less annoying than the kid in Babadook, whose awfulness admittedly was core to the mother losing her grip. Cumberbatch in particular shines as a man overcome by fear of forgetting his wife, not wanting to let her go. The most profound concept the film explores through our protagonist's experience is the distinction between grief and despair: Grief is natural and appropriate; despair is neither.

Four point five of five stars.