The Thing with Feathers

Synopsis

A young father (Benedict Cumberbatch) struggles to process the sudden and unexpected death of his wife, and his grip on reality begins to unravel when a seemingly malevolent presence starts to haunt him from the shadowy corners of the apartment he shares with his two young sons.

What begins as a terrifying haunting develops into a battle between a grieving family and their unwelcome, unpredictable houseguest and tormentor: a man-like crow, seemingly brought to life from the father’s work as an illustrator. The weeks and months the father and boys spend under the crow’s siege eventually lead them to a reconciliation with their grief and an acceptance of the new shape their family must take. "The Thing with Feathers" is a beautiful story about a father's love for his sons. The film is darkly comic, unsettling, odd, and sad, but ultimately leads to a deeply hopeful conclusion.

Production Facts

Written and directed by Dylan Southern, based on Max Porter's novel "Grief Is the Thing with Feathers". Produced by Film4, Andrea Cornwell, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, in co-production with Filmgate Films, Sean Wheelan, and Film i Väst.