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Cuckoo
review by Bobby Blakey
Horror films are often straight forward with their tone and violence or scares, but some come along that try to get a little more creative or deep in their storytelling. When it works it offers some amazing and often bizarre and terrifying cinema. The latest looking to bring its own voice is Cuckoo starring Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, and Jessica Henwick from director Tilman Singer. Could this film live up to the insanity of the trailer or will it scream louder than deliver?
Cuckoo follows 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father's boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen's mute half-sister Alma. Something doesn't seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family.
The trailer instantly pulled me in and had me confused in the best possible way. I was excited to see where it was all going and what the big twist was going to be to bring it altogether. I have to say while I enjoyed elements of the film, and it was unique overall it kind of fell flat for me. The slow pacing to the entire film made it hard to stick with it for me. I was struggling to care at random moments, but also, they would pull me back in with some elements keeping it a mixed bag throughout.
The cast are all fine with Schafer leading the charge in an excellent performance and the always great Dan Stevens chewing up every scene he is in. Even the story is compelling, offering plenty of interesting elements that get you guessing what
is going on. But, for every interesting element it took too long to get anywhere and gives little to no explanation. Typically for me I love that, but it felt like it was trying to explain it at times and then other times just letting it exist therefore making it a bag of confusion that you still understand.
The visuals and sound are some of the saving graces of the film as it is in your face. It isn’t a bloody film or even scary for that matter but brings a unique look that stands out to create its own thing. I applaud them for keeping Schafer all beat up throughout with it never allowing her to heal as the story goes on like most films. This is kind of a metaphor for things getting crazier and crazier which is a great approach I just wish there was something bigger and more out there that packed a punch at the end.
This is one of those films that I think will either connect with you or it won’t with no real grey area. I didn’t hate it but didn’t love it either. I wonder if the misleading trailers seemingly promoting a completely different kind of film kept it from working for me or was it just the pacing. It might be one I need to revisit down the road to allow it to soak in again. If you are able, try to go in completely fresh with no knowledge and see what you get from it yourself.
Either way I still applaud the swing into something more original and hope these kinds of films are successful enough to not only find the audiences they deserve, but to also pave the way for more like them.
In addition to the film, this release offers up bonus content including video diaries, interviews, teaser & trailer, deleted scenes, and a making of featurette. Step into a world that isn’t what it seems in Cuckoo available now on digital and then on Blu-ray and DVD on October 22nd from NEON.
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