Netflix viewers have been left in floods of tears watching the heart-wrenching film The Starling, starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd experiencing a traumatic death in the family.
Watch the emotional trailer below:
Most people will recognise McCarthy from her slapstick comedies and O'Dowd from sitcoms including Moone Boy and The IT Crowd however, their new project is completely different; it explores a married couple coming to terms with the death of their daughter from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
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SIDS is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. The exact cause cause of SIDS, which is sometimes called “cot death”, is unknown.
After their baby daughter dies of SIDS, Jack Maynard (O’Dowd) moves into a residential mental hospital while his wife Lilly (McCarthy) tries to come to terms with her own feelings at their home.
Lilly works at a supermarket and must try and hold their lives together and maintain their house as she drives two hours every week to visit her husband at the hospital.
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One day a starling bird, whose nest is in a tree in their garden, attacks her and she becomes obsessed with trying to shoo it away. But as the film progresses, Lilly soon learns to appreciate starlings and their ability to overcome obstacles to maintain their nests.
Viewers reacted to the film on Twitter, expressing how emotional they felt after watching it and praising the performances of the two leads.
"Just cried myself sore watching The Starling on Netflix," one viewer tweeted. "Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd are amazing. Equal parts funny and heartbreaking. I need a nap."
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A second viewer said they were caught off-guard by how emotional the film is. "Turned on The Starling knowing absolutely nothing about it but the cast and assumed it would be funny, annnnd now I'm sitting here in tears," they confessed.
While a third viewer praised the film's portrayal of baby loss, writing: "There’s a movie on Netflix called 'The Starling' about the way a marriage unravels after the loss of a baby. Not enough people talk about the mental health decline and loss of communication that happens between partners. It’s such a sad thing. This movie showcases it so well."
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While a fourth fan described the film as 'simply stunning', adding: "Cried buckets yet felt hopeful Xx beautiful film."
In the UK, more than 200 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly from SIDS every year. You can find out more about SIDS on the NHS website.
For help and support, contact The Lullaby Trust.
The Starling is available to stream on Netflix now.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: TV And Film