Benedict Cumberbatch's 'The Thing with Feathers' Struggles to Balance Grief and Horror

The Sundance premiere of Dylan Southern's adaptation of Max Porter's novella receives criticism for its uneven tone and lack of emotional depth.

The film, based on Max Porter's acclaimed novella, explores grief through the lens of a father, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, grappling with the sudden loss of his wife.
Critics note that the movie fails to effectively balance its psychological drama with its horror elements, leading to a lack of emotional resonance and genuine scares.
Cumberbatch delivers a committed performance, but reviewers find the character development and relationships, particularly with his sons, to be underwritten and superficial.
The titular Crow, voiced by David Thewlis, is criticized for being overly abstract and failing to serve as a compelling or transformative presence in the narrative.
The film's visual ambition and absurdist streak are acknowledged, but its repetitive pacing and lack of depth leave it struggling to connect with audiences.