When it comes to genre films, whether horror or action, it’s understood, even by us fans, that there are ultimately only a handful of basic stories. The beauty and fun is in watching how filmmakers make those familiar narratives their own and how they execute them into something memorable and entertaining. That said, there’s a particular thrill that gives me goosebumps when I realize I’m watching something that’s both well-made and brave enough to take a step down the road less traveled. Cuckoo It’s that kind of horror that’s unabashedly original, to the point where it’s guaranteed to lose something of you, and it cooks up something special within the otherwise expected trappings.
Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) arrives at her new home in the Bavarian Alps with her father, stepmother, and young stepsister, and it’s clear she’s not too happy about it. She’d rather go back to living in America, but that’s no longer an option after her mother’s death. Her desire to leave grows almost immediately when she starts to meet the residents of the small mountain resort. There’s the deliriously strange Mr. König (Dan Stevens) who runs the place. There’s the rebel cop, Henry (Jan Bluthardt), who has a strange theory about the resort’s true purpose. There are young women acting like they’re in a daze and throwing up late at night. And then there’s the hooded figure who seems very, very determined to kill Gretchen.
I’m leaving the synopsis intentionally vague knowing full well that it sounds like hundreds of other movies that see unsuspecting protagonists arriving in a small town with bad intentions, but I promise you, writer/director Singer Tilman I’m not here for the normal ones. Your inspirations for Cuckoo are obvious, from Argento to Verbinski, but the execution and imagination are all Singer’s, resulting in a horror film that moves with grace and style, from scares to laughs, and from thrills to real emotion, all while remaining just a little bit crazy.
There’s no getting around the fact that the central idea here is perhaps a little silly—potentially too silly for some—but there’s a commitment to the role, from everyone on both sides of the camera, that you’re either on board or you’re missing out on an incredibly fun ride. It’s the kind of big shift we don’t see often enough. Creature movie elements combine with mad science motifs for a story about the importance and power of family in our lives, for better or worse. Gretchen repeatedly resists the idea that little Alma (My place) being identified as her “sister” because she is actually a stepsister, of a stepmother (Jessica Henwick), and both are causing friction with their father (Marton Csokas). But what do these labels ultimately mean? Is a parent or guardian the one who created you, the one who is by your side now, or the one who shows up later when you need them most?
The singer infuses Cuckoo With style, supported by beautiful and striking images courtesy of the director of photography. Pablo FaltzIn one early scene, Gretchen is riding her bike at night, the world muted by her headphones, as the hooded figure draws closer. We see the distance between them narrow through shadows on the ground captured by a steady pulse of streetlamp lights, and it’s a suspenseful, tense sequence that hints at a dark truth in the teen’s pursuit. The sound design plays an equally important role here, as the hooded figure’s guttural screams grow closer and more alarming and the eerily empty landscapes echo with terror. Later scenes offer more playful thrills, and the connective tissue between them is formed by a combination of personality, quirkiness, and some surprising twists.
It won’t surprise anyone, though, that Stevens is a charismatic menace here with her self-described “preservationist” persona, and that she manages to transform a quietly menacing character into someone more action-oriented, resulting in some unexpected antics in the third act. The supporting cast is strong all around, but ultimately, this is Schafer’s show, and she absolutely rocks it. Her character goes through some rough patches, but she’s a beast who goes from funny to touching to heroic. You’re rooting for her through this silly, drool-filled nightmare, and you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Cuckoo is an undeniably fun horror film that fosters empathy across natural and man-made barriers, as a monster movie that does double duty as a family comedy-drama. Absurd at first glance, but imaginative, heartfelt, and beautifully realized, this is one of those rare films in the horror genre that breaks away from the norm and has fun doing it.
IThe 28th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival It will take place from July 18th to August 4th in the beautiful city of Montreal, Quebec. Follow our coverage here.