The Thing with Feathers

by Mike McGranaghan

The Thing with Feathers made my skin crawl. That’s not a specific criticism of the film itself – I’ll have a few of those in a minute – so much as it is a public service announcement. The story deals with grief and mourning, but not in a way that seeks to uplift or offer catharsis. No, this one rubs your nose in the main character’s suffering for 98% of its running time. If you’ve lost someone whose passing you still grapple with, your skin is likely to crawl, too. Be forewarned.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays “Dad,” the widower father to two young boys. He’s barely holding himself together in the wake of his wife’s death. To cope, he turns to his artistic talents, repeatedly sketching an ominous black crow. That crow (voiced by David Thewlis) eventually begins appearing physically, taunting Dad. The process repeats, pushing the poor guy closer and closer to a full-fledged emotional breakdown.

I’m feeling slightly depressed just remembering this movie.

Aside from the repetitive nature of the plot, director Dylan Southern employs an unusual visual style. He shoots in a square aspect ratio and utilizes a lot of tight close-ups. This has the effect of making it seem like the movie is constantly right up in your face. Scenes with the crow prove especially annoying, since you can’t get a very good look at him; you mostly just see a black figure, save for the occasional (slightly) wider shot. Watching The Thing with Feathers quite literally causes a sense of agitation, which, as you might imagine, makes the reveling in Dad’s grief even more gut-wrenching.

In fairness, Benedict Cumberbatch gives a strong, authentic performance. He essentially falls apart on camera, tossing aside any movie star glamor to deliver a turn that’s the dramatic equivalent of the “ugly cry.” Taking on the role must have been an appealing challenge to him, as it offers the opportunity to be vulnerable and to mine the character’s darkest depths. His skillful work, however, multiplies the already downbeat nature of the picture several times over.

Giving credit where due, grief is a legitimate topic for a film and the approach taken by The Thing with Feathers is artistically valid. But, man, is it ever unpleasant to watch. Viewers are sent away with nothing other than a profound sense of sadness.

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