Film Review: Cuckoo
by Rose Finlay

Tilman Singer | Germany | USA | 2024

After the passing of her mother, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) travels to the German Alps with her father, stepmother, and her mute stepsister Alma (Mila Lieu) to start a new life in a community set up by the rather strange proprietor Herr König (Dan Stevens). Gretchen’s father and stepmother had spent some time vacationing there in the past and are happy to return to their new villa and Gretchen soon has a job working the front desk of the hotel. However, when she takes a night shift, she is chased by a frightening figure and soon discovers there is more going on at the resort than the guests realize.

Once again Dan Stevens impresses with his spoken German as he plays the deliciously weird proprietor of the resort. It is his and Hunter Schafer’s performances which allow the film to overcome the flaws of its weak script. The story is honestly rather underbaked, but the set design and general vibe of the film are so quirky, creepy, and fun that you can almost forgive the silliness of the plot. The mid-century styling, Stevens’ flamboyant flute playing, and Schafer’s droll teenage angst gel well together and sometimes it all feels genuinely exciting. While CUCKOO is unlikely to become anyone’s favorite film of the year, it does deserve credit for its unflinching willingness to be absolutely absurd and it is certainly fun to enter into that world for a little while.