The Birds Who Fear Death (2024) Movie Review: A well-intentioned tale of self-discovery marred by a lack of emotional clutch 

Indo-Canadian filmmaker Sanjay Patel ventures into the picturesque Northan Canada to tell the story of two greedy brothers who are forced to connect with their roots and have a first-hand experience of their Indigenous culture in “The Birds Who Fear Death.” After making his debut with Union Leader (2017), Patel seems to have polished his craft, although his well-intentioned narrative still lacks an emotional clutch, something that will hold these stories together and make their impact memorable. 

In “The Birds Who Fear Death” we first meet Adam (Adam Beach), a foul-mouth middle-aged man who is extremely detached from his father William, despite him nearing his death. The detachment borderlines hate and we can see that whatever must have happened between the father-son duo was quite traumatic for him. Adam and his brother Ryan (Simon Baker), a comparatively cooler and more composed sibling, have been having financial trouble ever since they decided that they will try to save their late mother’s restaurant by buying it off. A major chunk of the buying money is stuck within the context of the inheritance that they are anticipating from their father after he dies. 

However, when their father does eventually die, they get to know that they are not the recipients of the inheritance. William had put his entire inheritance to aid a rural community of indigenous people known simply as the ‘Birds.’ This pisses Adam off. But when he realizes that there is no other way to counter the will, other than going all the way to Bird and requesting the chief of the community to sign a settlement with them, he decides to reluctantly go on this trip with his brother. 

Their journey to the land is an arduous one because, first, the community resides in a remote area that is not easily accessible, and second, upon arriving there they learn that their father wasn’t as renowned and well-known in the community as they had anticipated, making their task tougher. Along the way, Adam and Ryan befriend locals, more particularly Sharon (Carmen Moore) & Constance (Tanaya Beatty), but also get a lot of resilience from some including acting chief Faddy (Glen Gould) who blames their father for bringing death to the community by allowing industries to take over their pure and pious indigenous land. 

Now, from the onset itself, you are aware that “The Birds Who Fear Death” is a pretty familiar tale. The push and pull, the suggestive romance, and even the entire redemption arc feel cliched. However, director Sanjay Patel provides the narrative with a sense of freshness; thanks in large parts to a cast that feels like they have genuine chemistry between them. His idea of representing a community that he doesn’t belong to might feel a little off to many, but I can claim that his take is pretty sensitive and well-realized. 

That said, the film lacks any kind of emotional connection that it can have with the viewer. The third act in particular feels hackneyed and contrived, with the pivot into something more serious taking away from the gentle, unhurried buildup that his story had. The tonal shift feels abrupt and jarring, creating an impact that doesn’t stay with you. 

The Birds Who Fear Death (2024) Links: IMDb, Wikipedia