Benedict Cumberbatch stars in 'The Thing With Feathers', a new film adaptation of Max Porter's novella 'Grief Is the Thing With Feathers', but critics have found it unconvincing. The film, directed by Dylan Southern, follows a children's author and graphic novelist who is suddenly widowed and left to care for his two young sons in London.
The story centres on the protagonist's breakdown and his hallucination of a giant crow, voiced by David Thewlis, which mocks his grief. While Cumberbatch delivers an honest performance, the film has been described as too self-conscious to effectively challenge or process loss, lacking the power of the original book.
Critics note that the film refuses to specify the cause of death or show the wife's face, which feels unrealistic. The crow, intended as a symbol of grief, is not believable, and the film's tasteful approach undermines its potential as a horror movie. When the crow is absent, the drama becomes more involving.
