The Thing with Feathers

I wasn't sure what to expect going in, especially after seeing the trailer and reading one review call it a "savage bereavement horror." I was nervous about the intensity and fully expecting something a little cheesy, given that one of the central characters is essentially a Sesame Street Big Bird sized crow. But the film completely surprised me.

It's a tearjerker, but it's also wonderfully chaotic, gory, artsy, humorous, and strangely beautiful. The filmmakers somehow captured the surreal, disorienting nature of grief in a way that made this muppet feel meaningful rather than ridiculous. It shouldn't work, but it absolutely does.

Benedict Cumberbatch delivers an extraordinary performance, grounding the film's wildest moments with emotional honesty. If anything, the narrative falls just slightly short. With a bit more runtime, I think the story and editing could have filled in a few gaps and landed even more powerfully.

Overall, it's a bold, moving, and uniquely imaginative exploration of loss that stayed with me until I got home and gave my loved ones a longer hug than usual.

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.

A lot of reviewers calling this movie "The Benedook" or "The Bababatch" completely misunderstood what they were watching. This is not The Babadook, and it's not a horror metaphor about a creature haunting a family. It's something far more delicate and emotional.

Based on Max Porter's novel Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, the film follows a widowed father and his two boys as they navigate an overwhelming, disorienting period of grief. It uses a chapter-like structure from the book, giving each character space to express their own emotional language.

The film's title comes from the Emily Dickinson poem "Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers," and reading the first stanza before watching adds a layer of meaning that the movie itself never fully explains - but quietly echoes.

Cumberbatch delivers a raw and vulnerable performance. Dad is flawed, exhausted, and trying desperately to keep his family afloat. The boys are equally compelling, portraying childhood grief with honesty rather than melodrama.

Crow - portrayed physically by Eric Lampaert - is extraordinary. His movements are expressive and unique, and his presence means much more than what the trailer suggests. Crow isn't a symbol of horror, and he isn't here to torment anyone. His purpose is something gentler, something the film trusts you to interpret.

The cinematography is extremely dark, but within that darkness are moments of genuine visual poetry. The score is beautiful and adds emotional weight without overwhelming the scenes.

This is a quiet, deeply human story about loss, resilience, and the small forces that enter our lives when we need them most - even when we don't understand them.

I was convinced it couldn't be done and went into this film with trepidation. Max Porter's novella 'Grief is the thing with Feathers' is so singular, so different and so literary, that I would have considered anyone attempting to adapt it to be either stupid or mad!

But somehow they have pulled off the difficult task of adapting something so singular. Things are missing obviously, the literary nuance in places for example, but the film that has been made feels like it comes from the exact same place as the book. It's an odd, slightly mad thing with a kind heart.

Director Southern has taken some big swings and they connect. He has kept things fragmentary and somehow managed to submerge the viewers in this family's grief without drowning them.

The design and look of the film is gorgeous and the performances drawn out of the two young boys is heartbreakingly real. The acting across the board is wonderful, Southern, despite his documentary background, seems to have an aptitude for directing performance.

Crow is delicious. The choice of Thewlis to voice this character is genius.

It's a brilliant adaptation of a tricky book on a tricky subject. Can't wait to see it again.

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.