The Starling
A grieving woman battling a relentless backyard starling finds an unexpected path toward healing through friendship and facing the guilt that has fractured her marriage.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- sentimental
- witty
- quiet evening
- reflective viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's grief-centered premise and capable cast undermined by heavy-handed melodrama, tonal inconsistency, and blunt symbolism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lilly continues managing the home and the aggressive starling while Jack leaves to confront his grief in a treatment facility.
The starling repeatedly attacks Lilly and becomes the concrete focus of her anger, frustration, and guilt.
Lilly's grief and marital crisis are interwoven with comic bird attacks, veterinary eccentricity, and physical humor.
Lilly and Larry, a psychologist-turned-veterinarian with his own troubled past, help each other acknowledge their problems.
Films like The Starling, and why
Rabbit Hole
shared focus on marital grief, emotional recovery, and a warm but restrained relationship drama
Ordinary People
shared themes of bereavement, guilt, damaged relationships, and gradual emotional healing
The Fundamentals of Caring
shared blend of grief, unlikely friendship, gentle humor, and sentimental adult drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Theodore Melfi
- Release Date
- 2021-09-17
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (337)
Cast
- Melissa McCarthy
- Chris O'Dowd
- Kevin Kline
- Timothy Olyphant
- Daveed Diggs
- Skyler Gisondo
- Laura Harrier
- Kimberly Quinn
- Loretta Devine
- Jesse Garcia
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Starling about?
- A grieving woman battling a relentless backyard starling finds an unexpected path toward healing through friendship and facing the guilt that has fractured her marriage.
- What is The Starling like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Starling as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Starling violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Starling as mild.
- What did critics think of The Starling?
- Critics broadly found the film's grief-centered premise and capable cast undermined by heavy-handed melodrama, tonal inconsistency, and blunt symbolism.
- Which films are like The Starling?
- Films with a similar feel include Rabbit Hole, Ordinary People, and The Fundamentals of Caring.
- How long is The Starling?
- The Starling runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Starling?
- In United States, The Starling streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
