The Thing with Feathers

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The Thing with Feathers

R

2025

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Following the death of his wife, a young father's hold on reality crumbles and a strange presence begins to stalk him from the shadowy recesses of the apartment he shares with his two young sons. A man-like crow, seemingly brought to life from the father's work as an illustrator, is about to become a very real part of all of their lives, ultimately guiding them towards the new shape their family must take.

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Critics Consensus

The Thing with Feathers manages to take flight thanks in part to Benedict Cumberbatch, but choppy characterizations and lack of subtlety make for a rough ride.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Jan 27, 2026

2/5

Empathy and civility are cynically brushed off as performative and self-soothing, as if the film wants you only to believe in the restorative methods that it’s selling.

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Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

Nov 26, 2025

1.5/4

However, when it comes to critiquing a film adaptation, one thing is pretty clear from years of doing this: when the film doesn’t work, the problem often lies in the choices made when adapting the source material.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Nov 25, 2025

Ultimately, the problem is the decision to show us far too much of the rather shoddy-looking crow, which makes the film literal, prosaic and faintly absurd.

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Paula Vázquez Prieto

La Nación (Argentina)

Sep 4, 2026

2/5

The fact that the film can’t find its footing in the realm of fantasy - neither in horror nor in adjacent forms - leaves it as a hybrid between a children’s fable and a somewhat overwrought autobiographical tale. [Full review in Spanish]

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Pablo O. Scholz

Clarín

Sep 3, 2026

3/4

...either you believe what you're seeing, or you're left out of the plot and the film.[Full review in Spanish]

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James Mottram

South China Morning Post

Jan 14, 2026

3/5

The terrible burden of grief is laid bare in The Thing with Feathers, a gloomy but undeniably touching drama.

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Janine M

Dec 4, 2025

Cumberbatch did an amazing job portraying grief! I loved the different viewpoints from him, his boys, and the crow. Very artsy film, but I really enjoyed!

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Gabe Fox

Dec 1, 2025

Beautiful, touching, and intense.

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RJ

Nov 30, 2025

Beautiful, clever, funny and heart wrenching. Super underrated movie, almost didn't go see it because of the mixed reviews but this will be up there for film of the year for me.

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David P

Nov 29, 2025

Interesting, but lost my interest 3/4 of the way.

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PollyEsther

Nov 29, 2025

Benedict Cumberbatch gives an amazing performance and the physicality he brings to all his roles is perfectly suited to this surreal and moving take on grief. Each scene was beautifully and artfully composed, with the camera often taking on a character of its own. As someone who has lost someone close to them recently, I found this film cathartic

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown May 20, 2026

The Crow is grief. And I get it, but it's weird. Something is just off in the personification of the whole thing.

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Dylan Southern

Director

Benedict Cumberbatch

Dad

Richard Boxall

Boy 1

Henry Boxall

Boy 2

Eric Lampaert

Crow

Vinette Robinson

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The Thing with Feathers: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Following the death of his wife, a young father's hold on reality crumbles and a strange presence begins to stalk him from the shadowy recesses of the apartment he shares with his two young sons. A man-like crow, seemingly brought to life from the father's work as an illustrator, is about to become a very real part of all of their lives, ultimately guiding them towards the new shape their family must take.

Director: Dylan Southern
Producer: Andrea Cornwell, Leah Clarke, Adam Ackland
Screenwriter: Dylan Southern
Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
Production Co: Lobo Films, SunnyMarch
Rating: R (Language|Some Bloody Violent Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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