The Thing with Feathers

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The Thing with Feathers

R

Nov 2025

1h 44m

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 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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Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

Nov 26

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

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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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Nov 25

1/5

When talented people make bad movies it hurts. And when they make hollow dramas crammed with ersatz emotions it’s almost unforgivable.

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Zach Youngs

InSession Film

3d

C

Even with a reasonable runtime, The Thing with Feathers feels like a drag. It wallows for so long without forward momentum it feels stuck.

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Dec 13

If you want to see a dull, drab, and mostly depressing movie where Benedict Cumberbatch is a widower who has verbal and physical conflicts with an 8-foot-tall crow that represents grief, then The Thing With Feathers is the movie for you.

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Alise Chaffins

MacGuffin or Meaning (Substack)

Dec 4

2.5/5

Even with some wonderful acting and some powerful moments of grief, The Thing with Feathers is just too disjointed to make it a truly entertaining or emotionally moving watch.

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Janine M

Dec 4

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

Beautiful, touching, and intense.

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RJ

Nov 30

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

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

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PollyEsther

Nov 29

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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Les N

2d

The critics are wrong. A solid film.

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Dylan Southern

Director

Benedict Cumberbatch

Dad

Richard Boxall

Boy 1

Henry Boxall

Boy 2

Eric Lampaert

Crow

Vinette Robinson

Amanda

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

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