Cuckoo
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5)
NEON has recently emerged as a premiere distributor of low-budget, high-concept independent films. From Oscar dramas to psychological horror, they’ve steadily been carving out their identity in the wake of other studios like A24. With a string of horror hits this year, their latest film is another independent arthouse thriller starring Euphoria star Hunter Schafer.
The film follows troubled teen Gretchen (Schafer), who is forced to relocate to Bavaria with her distant dad (Marton Csokas) and his new family (Jessica Henwick, Mila Lieu) after the death of her mother. Longing to return to America and needing funds, she begins to work at the resort owned by the alarmingly eccentric entrepreneur Herr König (Dan Stevens), who has employed her father to help develop the business. After hearing screams in the dead of night, encountering debilitating déjà vu seizures, and being chased by a menacing woman in the woods, Gretchen suspects this weirdly picturesque place is catering to much more than the tourist trade.
Strange, tense and shrill, Cuckoo suffers from keeping its central mystery too distant for too long. As the film becomes increasingly bizarre, director Tilman Singer doesn’t fully illuminate all of the answers to the audience's questions. However, it does engage because of the fantastic performances from Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens. Schafer fills the shoes of the classic horror archetype of the ‘final girl’ very well and carries the film's emotional and thrill-centred moments in a powerful performance. It helps the film to be an effectively unique horror thriller because Gretchen always feels in imminent danger. And much of that ominous dread stems from the brilliant Dan Stevens, who is so suspiciously charming that you most certainly know he’s up to no good. It is also abundantly obvious how much fun Stevens has as the eccentric Herr König with a faux German accent.
Cuckoo also has fantastic, practical sound work that uses moments of silence to build tension and deliver solid scares. Audiences will likely be going "nah nah" multiple times throughout as the tensions ramp up and jump scares linger. This project's editing also helps disorient and communicate an atmosphere of tension and apprehension. However, technical skills can't help the film overcome its messy structure and plot. The film has so many ideas and convoluted plot threads that it's trying to explore but suffers from underdeveloped characters and concepts. While the film blends sci-fi and horror, it never fully commits to either, and its ultimate threat is too vaguely revealed to entirely threaten. This means the film's final moments leave more questions asked than answered.
However, Cuckoo rises above its inconsistencies to deliver an engaging thriller thanks to its performances and production value. For fans of horror, sci-fi thrillers, or Hunter Schafer, this will likely be entertaining.
Reel Dialogue: What happens when we play Creator?
The cuckoo bird is known for its unique breeding strategy. Instead of building their own nests, they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and when they're hatched, they let other birds feed their young, avoiding any parental responsibility. The dastardly Herr König is ultimately revealed to be an evil scientist trying to craft a perfect parasitic being. As König offers up guests to be the hosts of these 'cuckoo' creatures, we see objectively the detriments of trying to play Creator. König can't control his creatures as they go rogue and ignore his commands. No amount of research and development can remove the flaws in these creatures.
"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him." - Colossians 1:16
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things and that all things were created by Him and for Him. This includes humans. But humanity ignores God and does its own things, often to disastrous and destructive results. And when we try and fix the problems we have created, we often end up making things even worse and escalating the issues. Thankfully, God does not leave us to struggle alone. He sent His Son Jesus to save us from our sins, and if we follow and listen to Him, we can stop trying to be the Creator and live as intended – for the Creator. Have you met this Creator?
