Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens headline the deliriously wicked and strange Cuckoo, one of 2024’s best films.
Writer/Director Tilman Singer’s wildly entertaining horror film Cuckoo adds to the unique horror films of the last year. The film pits Hunter Schafer’s untethered teen against Dan Steven’s German Doctor in a film that twists and contorts so much one has no choice but to let go and enjoy the ride.
Gretchen (Schafer) has been forced upon her father (Martin Csokas), new stepmother (Jessica Henwick), and their daughter (Mila Lieu). They all go to a Spa Resort in the German Alps where Herr König (Stevens) has hired her father to design a new resort. Alone and without anyone or anything meaningful Gretchen takes a job at the resort. It is here that she begins to see and hear something odd. That oddity begins to hunt Gretchen. With no one listening or understanding Gretchen and her pleas for help, she begins to realize that it will only be her that can save not only her but her sister as well.
Hunter Schafer continues to prove that she is a singular talent. Cuckoo has her as a teen and though we do not know her full story, our sympathies are instantly with her. There is a sense of inner strength and likability that Schafer brings to the role that instantly draws you into her situation. Schafer plays things close to the vest but when she does open it only brings you closer to her character.
One not playing anything close to the vest is Dan Stevens. As Herr König, Stevens is allowed to go arched in a way that feels complimentary to his work in this year’s Abigail. From the moment Steven walks on screen and begins to speak in the German accent you can see he is evil personified. What makes Cuckoo and his performance so good is that both go deeper than the surface evil and give us something more. Something as funny as it is terrifying.
Cuckoo is a film designed at every step to throw an audience off balance with its loops, and purposeful twists in its narrative. It is difficult to truly discuss the film without giving away its secrets or its true intentions. One will have to trust if one enjoys truly original and strange horror that this will be one not to miss. It isn’t the shock and awe of what Singer has created as much as it’s the skill and mastery he’s done it with.
Needless to say, Cuckoo is a ride to be experienced not discussed (at least until after one has seen it). Those who love adventurous horror will find a destined-to-be classic (albeit a Cult Classic) in waiting.
Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens headline the deliriously wicked and strange Cuckoo, one of 2024’s best films.
Writer/Director Tilman Singer’s wildly entertaining horror film Cuckoo adds to the unique horror films of the last year. The film pits Hunter Schafer’s untethered teen against Dan Steven’s German Doctor in a film that twists and contorts so much one has no choice but to let go and enjoy the ride.
Gretchen (Schafer) has been forced upon her father (Martin Csokas), new stepmother (Jessica Henwick), and their daughter (Mila Lieu). They all go to a Spa Resort in the German Alps where Herr König (Stevens) has hired her father to design a new resort. Alone and without anyone or anything meaningful Gretchen takes a job at the resort. It is here that she begins to see and hear something odd. That oddity begins to hunt Gretchen. With no one listening or understanding Gretchen and her pleas for help, she begins to realize that it will only be her that can save not only her but her sister as well.
Hunter Schafer continues to prove that she is a singular talent. Cuckoo has her as a teen and though we do not know her full story, our sympathies are instantly with her. There is a sense of inner strength and likability that Schafer brings to the role that instantly draws you into her situation. Schafer plays things close to the vest but when she does open it only brings you closer to her character.
One not playing anything close to the vest is Dan Stevens. As Herr König, Stevens is allowed to go arched in a way that feels complimentary to his work in this year’s Abigail. From the moment Steven walks on screen and begins to speak in the German accent you can see he is evil personified. What makes Cuckoo and his performance so good is that both go deeper than the surface evil and give us something more. Something as funny as it is terrifying.
Cuckoo is a film designed at every step to throw an audience off balance with its loops, and purposeful twists in its narrative. It is difficult to truly discuss the film without giving away its secrets or its true intentions. One will have to trust if one enjoys truly original and strange horror that this will be one not to miss. It isn’t the shock and awe of what Singer has created as much as it’s the skill and mastery he’s done it with.
Needless to say, Cuckoo is a ride to be experienced not discussed (at least until after one has seen it). Those who love adventurous horror will find a destined-to-be classic (albeit a Cult Classic) in waiting.
Cuckoo is in theaters on August 9th
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