Grief is something that connects us all at some point in our lives and when it takes over, your world might just crack open. One of the most haunting cinematic journeys of 2025 dares to show exactly that. The Thing with Feathers adapts the novel Grief Is the Thing With Feathers by British author Max Porter into a surreal, genre-bending drama.
Directed by Dylan Southern and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Avengers), the film hits theaters in New York on November 28, and is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a cinematic escape during the holiday weekend with family. Get buy-one-get-one-free tickets here using code FEATHERS at checkout!
The Thing With Feathers
Cumberbatch plays a father trying to raise his two young sons after the sudden loss of his wife, only for his world to be invaded by a giant crow-like figure that might just represent sorrow, memory…or something far more sinister.
Tickets for The Thing with Feathers are available now—get yours here for a theater near you!
As audiences premiered the film at festivals like Sundance and Berlinale, Berlin’s film festival last winter, its striking visuals and emotional rawness stood out, and now New Yorkers can finally see why. The crow, voiced by actor David Thewlis, shifts between menacing and protective, perfectly mirroring the father’s internal turmoil. Grab your tickets to this moving film here.
The Thing with Feathers Reviews:
The powerful and chilling movie has already been well-received by movie goers who got a sneak peek of the film. If you’re ready for a cinematic experience that’s as unnerving as it is poetic, The Thing with Feathers just might be your next must-see. Secure your spot and read on to see what people thought of the film.
“I liked it a lot and think broader audiences will as well. It felt a lot like a movie not meant for critics if that makes sense. Working through grief via horror was super novel and when you couple that with superb action scenes it really becomes one of a kind. Easily a cult classic, however in my opinion, it’ll be the best movie of the year. It touched something within me that no movie was able to do in the past few years.”
“I was convinced it couldn’t be done and went into this film with trepidation. Max Porter’s novel ‘Grief is the Thing with Feathers’ is so singular, so different and so literary, that I would have considered anyone attempting to adapt it to be mad! But somehow they have pulled off the difficult task of adapting something so singular. The film feels like it comes from the exact same place as the book. It’s an odd, slightly mad thing with a kind heart. The design and look of the film is gorgeous, and the performances of the two young boys are heartbreakingly real. It’s a brilliant adaptation of a tricky book on a tricky subject. Can’t wait to see it again.”
“I saw this film tonight and honestly, I absolutely loved it. The characters and the metaphors…it’s beautiful to see. Really thought at the start it was going to be more of a horror but the storytelling keeps you guessing. It’s really turbulent in parts which just adds to the empathy you feel for all of the characters and it smooths towards the end for obvious reasons. I think my only worry is that it may show grief as a linear process of coping, which isn’t always the case. 9/10. The soundtrack, the acting and the cinematography were all incredible. Definitely worth your time.”
🎬 Check out the film’s website here.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt movie that blends grief with mystery, don’t miss The Thing with Feathers starting November 28.