Playing in UK cinemas from Friday 23rd August is the horror-thriller, Cuckoo. Written and directed by Tilman Singer, the movie stars Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, and follows the story of Gretchen – a teenager who uncovers a worrying secret at a German holiday resort.
In the movie, Gretchen leaves the US and moves to the Bavarian Alps in Germany to live with her father and his new family. Her dad is staying at a resort, and Gretchen is going to live with him, his wife, and their young daughter (Gretchen’s step-sister).
Upon arrival, Gretchen is offered a job at the resort by overly friendly owner, Herr König. He believes a spot of employment will give Gretchen something to do during her stay and it would be good for him to have another English-speaking person on staff.
But a couple of days into her new position, Gretchen begins to notice some troubling behaviour from the guests. However, when she attempts to raise her fears and concerns with her father, he appears to be preoccupied with his new family.
Creepy, atmospheric, and a bit mad, Cuckoo is a bizarre film which may not work for all, but for some it could just offer the right amount of nightmarish weirdness. It’s certainly a tad bonkers in places, and if bonkers is the correct buzzword for you, then fill your boots accordingly.
But know this: Cuckoo spends a great deal of time faffing about before it gets to where it wants to go and this may prove frustrating. And when it does finally arrive at its destination, you may also find yourself asking was it really worth it, so do bear this in mind.
My general feeling is that Cuckoo has plenty of potential, it just doesn’t quite pull everything together. There are aspects of the movie I really like, but equally there are parts that do nothing for me.
The biggest selling point is the cast. Hunter Schafer is great as Gretchen, while Dan Stevens is superb as Herr König, in that way Dan Stevens is pretty much superb in everything he does.
He plays the part with a twinkle in his eye and an air of menace throughout and this keeps the interest levels up. It’s clear König is up to no good, but Stevens keeps his intentions close to his chest and this results in an intriguing turn from the actor.
Other than the cast, Cuckoo has occasional moments where things are dark and/or unsettling, but that’s about it. To reiterate, there are aspects I like, but there are some I don’t.
Ultimately, I don’t expect Cuckoo to be the next big thing in the world of horror, nor will it wow everyone. The film’s big reveal is pretty obvious, and it does drag in places, so approach with caution if you’re curious.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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