Grief given wings
A father (Benedict Cumberbatch) has just lost his wife and the mother of his two children. Naturally, a deep heaviness sits upon the father and his sons as they grieve. On the night of the funeral, the father sits alone in the lounge room, overcome with tears, while outside, the sound of a crow echoes through a nearby window. As time passes, the father does everything he can to hold himself together. While his two sons return to school, he also resumes his work at home as a comic book artist. Despite this, he remains deeply depressed and continues to struggle with day-to-day life. He finds it difficult to sleep or find any sense of peace, and soon begins hearing strange voices and odd sounds, even when no one is there. One night, the doorbell rings, but when he checks, no one is outside. Instead, a crow appears, paying the father and his home an unexpected visit.
A dark, emotional leap from documentary to drama
The Thing with Feathers is a heavy drama with mystery elements woven throughout. Some audiences may even go so far as to say it borders on horror, given the real-life nightmare and torment the father finds himself enduring after the loss of his wife — plus, there’s a creepy crow the size of a human being, so there’s that too. It was directed by Dylan Southern, whose previous work includes Meet Me in the Bathroom (2022) and Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012). Interestingly, Dylan’s past projects have primarily focused on music and documentary filmmaking, making The Thing with Feathers a striking departure as it ventures into narrative drama. It’s also worth noting that Dylan serves as the film’s writer.
Interpretation becomes the real ending
If you’re expecting a thriller filled with twists and reveals, sorry, this isn’t that kind of story. By the end, I found myself forming my own interpretations of what was really happening, though who knows whether I arrived at the same interpretation as the filmmakers intended. Interestingly, I appreciated the way the film was divided into chapters, each offering a different perspective. These were titled Dad, Crow, Boys, and the final chapter is called… well, I’ll let you discover that one for yourself, as I found its title quite unexpected.
A commanding performance anchored in pain.
Performance-wise, Benedict Cumberbatch is once again absolutely brilliant on screen. The actor delivers what could be his most dramatic and emotionally heavy performance to date, with his craft on full display from the opening scene. The voice work from David Thewlis as the Crow is also a fantastic casting choice, bringing a mysterious yet dark presence to what was once a peaceful and joyful household. At the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder if Benedict Cumberbatch himself could have also voiced the Crow character, possibly with even more powerful results.
A haunting vision in a perfect frame
The film’s style is highly artistic, filled with a wonderful amount of creativity. The camera angles are clever, and there is impeccable and striking use of lighting throughout. The style alone had me questioning whether the film aimed to be a heavy drama or was intentionally leaning toward a horror tone. The 4:3 aspect ratio (square image) was a fantastic choice and visually fitting.
Stunning to watch, slower to feel
While the leading performances and visual style are awe-inspiring and praiseworthy, the film’s pacing and story were where I found myself struggling. Although the film presents a straightforward narrative and progression, I couldn’t help but feel it often dragged, with some scenes lacking engagement or intensity. Several aspects of the film contributed to this, including the climax and finale, which were both quite ambiguous and vague. Is the Crow a ghost, a demon, a figment of the father’s imagination, or simply a talking crow with a darkness of its own? The film never offers a definitive answer, leaving much open to interpretation. The musical score by Zebedee Budworth is often eerie and, at times, even loud, adding a fitting touch to the film’s overall tone of gripping drama.
A hauntingly beautiful exploration of grief
A Thing with Feathers (2025) will be available at the British Film Festival 2025!
FESTIVAL WEBSITE:
https://britishfilmfestival.com.au/
5th November – 7th December 2025
Festival Hashtag: #BFF2025
Published: 25th October 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
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