"Dylan Southern directs with a quiet confidence, keeping the film visually interesting while letting the emotions breathe"

Presented in this year’s Berlinale Special Gala, The Thing with Feathers is a strong and thoughtful adaptation of Max Porter’s Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. A deep journey into grief and the fight with one’s own demons at a moment in life that eventually comes for everyone, the film delivers a haunting and emotional experience.

Benedict Cumberbatch once again proves why he’s one of the most compelling actors of his generation. His performance is raw, layered, and completely convincing, capturing the weight of grief with incredible nuance. He plays a father trying to keep going after the sudden death of his wife, holding on for his kids while struggling with his own emotions. Then there’s the crow, voiced by David Thewlis—a presence that is strange, poetic, and unsettling all at once. It pulls the film into a surreal space, making grief feel like a character of its own.

Dylan Southern directs with a quiet confidence, keeping the film visually interesting while letting the emotions breathe. It’s heavy, sometimes slow, but never forced. Some might find its style too abstract, but for those willing to sit with it, The Thing with Feathers is a powerful experience.