The Thing with Feathers
A widowed father’s attempt to protect his sons from grief is shadowed by a crow-shaped presence emerging from his unraveling perception.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- harrowing
- eerie
- quiet evening
- reflective viewing
What critics said
Critics were divided, with the film's ambitious grief imagery and performances receiving attention but its unsettling psychological approach producing mixed overall reactions.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dad hears and sees ominous phenomena as his household becomes increasingly disordered after his wife's death.
The crow Dad draws appears central to the film's unsettling imagery and emotional symbolism.
The father's home deteriorates as he tries to maintain daily life for his two sons while processing loss.
Dad must keep Henry and Richard motivated at home and school following their mother's death.
Films like The Thing with Feathers, and why
The Babadook
shared intimate grief drama, fractured domestic life, and emotionally intense psychological realism
A Monster Calls
shared depiction of parental bereavement through unsettling genre-inflected imagery and family trauma
The Father
shared quiet British family drama centered on mourning, isolation, and a parent struggling to care for children
Movie Details
- Director
- Dylan Southern
- Release Date
- 2025-10-17
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (45)
Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- David Thewlis
- Sam Spruell
- Vinette Robinson
- Leo Bill
- Garry Cooper
- Jessie Cave
- Adam Basil
- Lizzie Clarke
- Tim Plester
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Thing with Feathers about?
- A widowed father’s attempt to protect his sons from grief is shadowed by a crow-shaped presence emerging from his unraveling perception.
- What is The Thing with Feathers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Thing with Feathers as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Thing with Feathers violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Thing with Feathers.
- What did critics think of The Thing with Feathers?
- Critics were divided, with the film's ambitious grief imagery and performances receiving attention but its unsettling psychological approach producing mixed overall reactions.
- Which films are like The Thing with Feathers?
- Films with a similar feel include The Babadook, A Monster Calls, and The Father.
- How long is The Thing with Feathers?
- The Thing with Feathers runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Thing with Feathers?
- In United States, The Thing with Feathers is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling.
