Benedict Cumberbatch Explores Male Grief in the Psychological Drama 'The Thing with Feathers'

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch takes on a challenging new role in the psychological drama, The Thing with Feathers, a film that dares to challenge conventional understandings of male mourning. Directed by Dylan Southern, this cinematic adaptation is based on Max Porter’s acclaimed debut novella, which first appeared in 2015. With a production budget of 6 million dollars, the movie delves into the messy, chaotic process of experiencing loss, setting it apart from more straightforward narratives on the subject of bereavement.

Cumberbatch portrays a father grappling with the sudden death of his wife while simultaneously raising his two young sons, Richard and Henry Boxall. The actor aimed to convey the strength that can emerge from vulnerability, consciously moving away from macho clichés. This approach aligns perfectly with Porter’s source material, which itself draws heavily from the author’s personal experience following the loss of his own father. The narrative centers on the father, referred to simply as “Dad” in the screenplay, who finds himself adrift after his wife’s tragic passing, leading to a significant psychological fracturing.

To visually represent this profound state of grief, the film introduces a surreal figure: the Crow, who invades the family’s London residence. Voiced by David Thewlis, this unwelcome visitor simultaneously torments, teases, and offers solace to the protagonist. Max Porter himself described the Crow as acting like a “mad Freudian therapist.” This central metaphor becomes the vehicle through which the film explores the depths of the father’s sorrow.

Southern, the director, who previously made his mark in documentary filmmaking, makes his feature-length fiction debut with this project. The screenplay, penned by Southern, successfully retains the novel’s tripartite structure, focusing distinctly on “Dad,” “The Boys,” and “The Crow.” However, certain literary nuances from the book were omitted, including direct references to the poetry of Ted Hughes. Cumberbatch engaged closely with actual ravens during filming for scenes where the Crow manifests as a physical embodiment of the father's anguish.

The physical presence of the Crow was brought to life by actor Eric Lampert, while Thewlis provided the voice—a mocking tone designed to penetrate the father’s “psychic wound.” The film received backing from the British Film Institute (BFI) in 2024. Its journey began with a world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2025, followed by a screening at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2025.

Vue Lumière secured the distribution rights for the UK and Ireland, scheduling the theatrical release for November 21, 2025. Critical reception has been somewhat divided. On Metacritic, the film garnered a score of 50 out of 100, based on 13 reviews. While critics lauded Cumberbatch’s exceptional performance, some noted the film’s “uneven characterization.” Clocking in at 104 minutes, the movie endeavors to illustrate that mourning is anything but a straightforward path, employing surreal imagery to depict a shattered consciousness, drawing thematic parallels to established works on grief such as Don’t Look Now and Solaris.