The Thing With Feathers

In his debut feature, British director Dylan Southern delivers a poetic study of mourning, survival, and the bonds that hold families together. After the sudden death of his wife, a young father (Benedict Cumberbatch) retreats with his two children to a remote lakeside cabin. Isolated from the outside world, the father’s hold on reality crumbles and a strange presence begins to stalk him from the shadowy recesses of the apartment he shares with his two young sons. A man-like crow, seemingly brought to life from the father’s work as an illustrator, is about to become a very real part of all of their lives, ultimately guiding them towards the new shape their family must take. Filmed with striking natural light and an unhurried rhythm, Southern captures both the fragility and endurance of human connection.