The Thing with Feathers Review: Disjointed Storytelling
THE THING WITH FEATHERS, from director Dylan Southern, has some lovely elements, but the genre blending hinders more than it helps.
As I was watching The Thing with Features from director Dylan Southern, it struck me that this was the second adaptation of Max Porter that I’ve seen this year, the first being Steve. As much as his work resonates with people, it feels very much like Porter’s writing is the kind of thing that lives better on the page than on screen, because while The Thing with Feathers has some beautiful and horrific moments, it ultimately didn’t connect with me.
The film follows Dad (Benedict Cumberbatch, The Roses) and The Boys (Henry Boxall and Richard Boxall - real-life brothers). This family is struggling following the shocking death of Mum (Claire Cartwright). Dad is having a difficult time figuring out how to keep life normal for the Boys, and while there are moments of connection, far more often the effort is fruitless. Dad tries to escape his grief through his work as a graphic novelist, but as he draws, he creates a character who infiltrates his real life, as Crow (played by Eric Lampaert and voiced by David Thewlis) begins to haunt him and the Boys. While Crow may be a menace, he also seems to be holding at bay something far more treacherous in The Demon (Adam Basil).
One of the things that made it tough to find a groove while watching The Thing with Feathers is that it can’t seem to settle on a genre. While it feels like it should be a heartfelt examination of grief, it often finds itself in the horror genre. And while horror can be an effective way to examine the way people mourn (the comparisons to The Babadook are not entirely without merit), in this film, the genre shifts seem to halt any emotional reaction the audience is experiencing rather than enhancing it.
As mentioned earlier, the movie has some impressive elements. The design for Crow is really wonderful, adding a striking element to a dark film. The use of a real crow in scenes also makes for a few really compelling moments in the movie. The visuals are dramatic, with shadows amplifying the sorrow throughout the house. I also appreciate that Dad doesn’t seem to hide his emotions, either from the Boys or from others in his life. That aspect gives the film a bit more depth than others that may deal with a similar story.
Additionally, the performances from the Boxall brothers and Cumberbatch are all really well done. This was the first acting job for Henry and Richard, but they did an impressive job behaving like children after a major loss. We see them shrinking away from others, turning to each other for play and comfort, even as they process the death of their mother. Cumberbatch, who has a history of impressive performances, turns in a surprisingly physical showing that also manages to have moments of genuine pathos. Sadly, all of these actors felt let down by tonal shifts that consistently undercut whatever emotional beats they were aiming for.
Movies about grief have a difficult task to achieve. Creating a story that is relatable while maintaining some unique aspects is tough to pull off. This movie is unable to quite make it all come together. Even with some wonderful acting and some powerful moments of grief, The Thing with Feathers is just too disjointed to make it a truly entertaining or emotionally moving watch.
Rating: 2.5/5
Check out my exclusive interview with director Dylan Southern!