Benedict Cumberbatch Stars in ‘The Thing with Feathers’

LOS ANGELES, CA — Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the new film “The Thing with Feathers,” opening in theaters this week. The drama, adapted from Max Porter’s novella, explores themes of grief through the story of an author who interacts with an imaginary crow.

Cumberbatch plays Dad, a recently widowed father raising two young boys, portrayed by twins Richard and Henry Boxall. The boys face challenges adjusting to life without their mother, leading to comedic yet poignant moments, such as dealing with their dislike of soy milk.

As Dad struggles with his new responsibilities, the imaginary crow, voiced by David Thewlis and depicted by Eric Lampaert, disrupts his life with dark humor and unexpected insights. Thewlis delivers a standout performance, embodying the character with a haunting presence that contrasts with Dad’s more subdued demeanor.

The film’s dark cinematography, handled by Ben Fordesman, draws comparisons to the infamous “Game of Thrones” episode that viewers criticized for being too dark. This stylistic choice, alongside the narrow 4:3 aspect ratio, aims to create an intimate atmosphere but often hampers visual clarity.

Director Dylan Southern describes the film as a personal passion project, influenced by his own experiences with grief. He hopes it will resonate with audiences, particularly men who struggle to express their emotions. Despite its ambitious themes, the film struggles to maintain viewer engagement due to uneven pacing and occasional muddled storytelling.

“The Thing with Feathers” has received mixed reviews, and while its exploration of grief is commendable, it fails to consistently engage viewers. The film is rated R for language and bloody violent content and is currently playing at AMC Boston Common and other suburban theaters.