Benedict Cumberbatch Is a Dad Destroyed By Grief in New 'The Thing With Feathers' Sneak Peek [Exclusive]

Benedict Cumberbatch Is a Dad Destroyed By Grief in New 'The Thing With Feathers' Sneak Peek [Exclusive] Sam Spruell comforting a grief-stricken Benedict Cumberbatch in The Thing With FeathersImage via Briarcliff Entertainment By  Ryan O'Rourke Published 41 minutes ago Ryan O'Rourke is a Senior News Writer at Collider with a specific interest in all things adult animation, video game adaptations, and the work of Mike Flanagan. He is also an experienced baseball writer with over six years of articles between multiple outlets, most notably FanSided's CubbiesCrib. Whether it's taking in a baseball game, a new season of Futurama or Castlevania: Nocturne, or playing the latest From Software title, he is always finding ways to show his fandom. When it comes to gaming and anything that takes inspiration from it, he is deeply opinionated on what's going on. Outside of entertainment, he's a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelor's in Communication where he honed his craft as a writer. Between The IV Leader at Illinois Valley Community College and The Pegasus at Eureka, he spent the majority of his college career publishing articles on everything from politics to campus happenings and, of course, entertainment for the student body. Those principles he learned covering the 2020 election, Palestine, and so much more are brought here to Collider, where he has gleefully written on everything from the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Nathan Lane baby-birding sewer boys. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Benedict Cumberbatch has been capable of creating joy on the big screen, whether with his comedic performances like this year's The Roses or his MCU appearances as Doctor Strange. However, this week will see the acclaimed actor pulled to the absolute depths of despair in The Thing With Feathers. Ahead of the premiere, Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek that shows his character, Dad, at one of his lowest moments as the gravity of his wife's sudden, tragic death sinks in. It's a harrowing look at how the grief renders him almost speechless and how he tries to do right by his kids despite the horrible situation that has befallen their family.

In the footage, Dad is sitting with a friend, sipping a warm drink, and having a cigarette while processing everything that has happened. The look on his face alone says it all — he's lost without his wife there to help him, and he still can't quite come to terms with the fact that she's gone. When his friend asks him if he wants to talk or if he's getting any sleep, he only responds with short nods until he ultimately breaks down in tears again. At the very least, he appears to have a positive support system in place, with his friend comforting him and even offering to pick up the kids if he'd rather stay home. Dad's determined to be a good father, though, and he wants to ensure his two sons have at least some semblance of normalcy in their lives at a time when everything has been flipped upside down.

Although he has people to support him, The Thing With Feathers will follow Dad as he spirals out of control. The official trailer, which we were able to share as part of Collider's Exclusive Winter Preview series, showed how, without his wife, he struggles to pick up the slack for his sons when it comes to things like making dinner or shopping for groceries. One thing not seen in the sneak peek that makes overcoming his grief feel near impossible, however, is the unhinged house guest, Crow, who becomes a constant presence in his life. This unwanted physical manifestation of the family's grief taunts Dad and the kids from the shadows, adding complications to what should be a time to mourn and heal together. Based on Max Porter's novella, Grief Is the Thing With Feathers, the story follows this broken family as they face and try to overcome the menace, while embracing a bit of the chaos.

'The Thing With Feathers' Has Been Hailed As a Devastating Exploration of Grief and Loss

Dylan Southern wrote and directed The Thing With Feathers with Andrea Cornwell, Adam Ackland, and Leah Clarke serving as producers. Alongside Cumberbatch are Richard and Henry Boxall as Dad's two sons, David Thewlis as the ominous voice of Crow, Jessie Cave, Vinette Robinson, Sam Spruell, Leo Bill, and more. Critics had high praise for the two-time Oscar nominee's performance as the sad dad at the center of this story. Collider's Anna Miller was positive about the vision overall in her review, praising the film for capturing the nature of grief. "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 wrote.

The Thing With Feathers arrives in theaters this Friday, November 28. Check out our exclusive clip in the player above.

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The Thing with Feathers

Like Drama Release Date January 25, 2025 Director Dylan Southern Writers Dylan Southern

Cast

• Benedict Cumberbatch Dad
• David Thewlis Crow

Genres Drama Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movie News
• Benedict Cumberbatch
• David Thewlis

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