Earlier this year, Benedict Cumberbatch fans were treated to one of the most underrated movies of 2025, as he starred alongside Olivia Colman in director Jay Roach‘s The Roses. Both gripping and hilarious from start to finish, the adaptation of the 1989 comedy The War of the Roses reminded everyone, if nothing else, of Cumberbatch’s ability to move seamlessly between the dramatic and the comedic. His latest movie, The Thing with Feathers, sees him work exclusively with the former, delivering a performance you won’t want to miss when it makes its theatrical debut on November 28. Excitingly, for those who can’t wait, as part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event, which covers the biggest and best movies and shows of this season, we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive image and, perhaps even more excitingly, a trailer from The Thing with Feathers.

Showcasing Cumberbatch’s father walking hand in hand with his two children, seemingly isolated in a barren snowy landscape, the exclusive image below evokes the sense of grief, loss, and loneliness that the film discusses in such poignant detail. Our exclusive trailer for the movie follows Cumberbatch’s grieving father as he descends into madness, plagued by a bird taunting him day in and day out, following the death of his wife. Also starring the ever-brilliant Jessie Cave and the voice of David Thewlis, The Thing With Feathers is based on the novella, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, by Max Porter, and is written and directed by Dylan Southern. A synopsis for the movie reads:

“Left to raise two young sons after the unexpected death of his wife, Dad’s life begins to unravel. Grief is messy and chaotic enough as it is, but when it takes the form of an unhinged and unwanted house guest – Crow – taunting him from the shadows, things start to spiral out of control…but maybe that’s exactly what Dad needs.”

‘The Thing with Feathers’ Is an Unflinching Exploration of Grief

As many movies do, The Thing with Feathers unflinchingly tackles the devastating topic of grief and all its nuanced forms and consequences. This part of the movie seemed to resonate most with the critics who saw its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. In Anna Miller‘s review of the film for Collider, she said, “Anyone who has had an experience with loss will most likely deeply resonate with The Thing with Feathers; they’re up for a harrowing and distressing, yet somewhat cathartic viewing.” She went on to add, “The film obviously dances on the premise of tender subject matter, and though it is not overtly graphic in its depiction of death, it’s disturbing all the same.”

The Thing with Feathers will play in theaters on November 28. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest updates from our Exclusive Winter Preview Event. You can watch the trailer for The Thing With Feathers ​​​​​​below.

Release Date

January 25, 2025

Director

Dylan Southern

Writers

Dylan Southern