CUCKOO
(director/writer: Tilman Singer; cinematographer: Paul Faltz; editors: Terel Gibson, Philipp Thomas; music: Simon Waskow; cast: Hunter Schafer (Gretchen), Marton Csokas (Luis), Jessica Henwick (Beth), Mila Lieu (Alma), Dan Stevens (Herr Koenig), Jan Bluthardt (Henry, Detective), Matthea Lára Pedersen (Teenage girl), Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey (Ed), Kalin Morrow (Hooded Woman), Proschat Madani (Dr. Bonomo), Konrad Singer (Erik); Runtime: 103; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Thor Bradwell, Ken Kao, Markus Halberschmidt, Ben Rimmer, Josh Rosenbaum, Maria Tsigka; Neon; 2024-Germany/USA-in German, French, English, American sign language-with English subtitles)
“One might have to be really cuckoo to appreciate Cuckoo.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A confusing horror pic from the German director and writer Tilman Singer (“Luz”). The visually surreal film is eerie and lacking in logic, that’s good in spurts but not as a whole film.
Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) is a 17-year-old whose mother recently died. She reluctantly must relocate from America to the German Alps to be with her architect father Luis (Marton Csokas), his new wife Beth (Jessica Henwick) and her new 7-year-old mute half-sister Alma (Mila Lieu). Her dad is hired to redesign the 1970s-like retro resort, and the family live at the resort.
Mr. König (Dan Stevens), the sinister resort owner, shows a keen interest in Gretchen’s half-sister and in Gretchen, who he puts to work part-time at the front desk.
Before you can say there’s something weird about the resort, strange things begin to happen-like female guests are mysteriously vomiting on the premise and a screaming woman is chasing Gretchen around the resort.
Without offering explanations for the mysteries, the promising but unsatisfactory film milks all the mysterious things taking place to make you feel uncomfortable. It also gets a tantalizing ‘what the fuck’ performance from the wonderful Hunter Schafer, as it lives in horror film heaven off the creepy atmosphere created. But rather than being a good film, it’s a strange one. One might have to be really cuckoo to appreciate Cuckoo.
REVIEWED ON 8/21/2024 GRADE: C
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