THING WITH FEATHERS, THE

(director/writer: Dylan Southern; screenwriter: based on the novella Brief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter; cinematographer: Ben Fordesman; editor: George Cragg; music: Zebedee Budworth; cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (Dad), Henry Boxall (young boy), Richard Boxall (young boy), David Thewlis (voice of Crow), Eric Lampaert (Crow), Vinette Robinson (Amanda), Sam Spruell (Paul), Lesley Molony (Margaret, wife’s mother); Runtime: 98; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Andrea Cornwell; Lobo Films/Briarcliff Entertainment; 2025-UK)

“A misguided drama on grief.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

It’s a misguided drama on grief that’s set in a claustrophobic apartment. The Thing with Feathers is adapted from the critically acclaimed 2015 novella Brief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter. Dylan Southern (“Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive”/”Shut Up and Play the Hits”) directs and writes the screenplay. The too ambitious adaptation tries to blend together a horror genre with a psychological drama but makes artistic choices in filming that don’t work.

The heavy-handed meditation fantasy on dealing with grief never seemed credible. I also found its plot device annoying, as it frames the story around an imaginary taunting anthropomorphic black Crow used for symbolism to confront the mourners.


The film is divided into four chapters: Dad, The Boys, Crow, and Demon.

The young father (Benedict Cumberbatch), an art illustrator, is overcome with grief at the passing of his wife and that he must raise alone his two young boys Henry and Richard (Henry Boxall & Richard Boxall) knowing that he’s not good at parenting.

The story centers around how Dad reacts to a mysterious crow (voiced by David Thewlis) that suddenly appears in his apartment.


Cumberbatch tries to get things on track by getting emotional over his predicament but has been handed a lightweight script.
 
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 12/15/2025  GRADE: C
dennisschwartzreviews.com