The Wasteland Reviewer

Cuckoo (2024) Written Review

What a great launch to a career Hunter Schafer has had so far? Euphoria launched quite a few performers into the sky and Schafer is certainly one of them. This HBO show has plenty of elements that challenged its young cast with complex characters and unfortunate scenarios. Schafer showed her chops well and rose to stardom. Schafer even got a small role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness that came out earlier this year. But with Cuckoo, audiences are being treated to Schafer’s first big film leading role. 

With Schafer getting most of the attention going in, does writer/director Tilman Singer get an opportunity to stand out? The visual expression on screen is honestly something special. There is a specific element of the film’s creature that includes an unnerving auditory attack that turns back time a bit and the way that Singer presents this on screen makes for something interesting. There is also a foreboding atmosphere that Singer can create with some unnerving and eerie imagery that will put the audience on edge. There are a few scares in the film that are quite effective thanks to the dynamic direction of Singer. The bike chase (as seen in the trailer) has great tension building and Singer succeeds there. 

Does Singer’s script match the directing he delivers? The overall concept is quite fascinating and incorporates the “cuckoo” of the title in an effective way when it comes to the creatures. There is some good heart as well as Schafer’s Gretchen has some serious trauma and grief that she is processing because of her mother as well as the tension with her father over the attention of Gretchen’s young half-sister. The emotional core of the film is intact. Where things get messy is where there are way too many subplots that start piling up. There is a random love interest for Gretchen. A mysterious cop gets on this case. There is even some tension between the members of the medical team that runs this strange resort (because that was necessary). There is some clunkiness as well when it comes to laying out the mystery once the time comes. Luckily, we are treated to a hammy German-accented Dan Stevens who gets to spell it all out for us. The climactic confrontation certainly has its moments and some good thrills, but it also feels a bit unsatisfying once it becomes too mundane for the wild concept the film boasts. 

Schafer is certainly a big selling point, but does she live up to the hype (along with the rest of the cast)? This leading performance delivers for sure. Schafer has plenty of great moments throughout the film as she must sell plenty of big emotions as well as physical misfortunes that occur to Gretchen. The physicality that Schafer shows is quite impressive and builds plenty of empathy for Gretchen. Schafer also captures the energy of this young woman, and her personality is the biggest one in the film (which is much needed). Stevens is a fun time with his hammy and charming performance even if there is not much to the character except for faux politeness and exposition. The rest of the veteran cast feel a bit underutilized but Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick, Jan Bluthardt, and others do their best with their minimal characterization. Mila Lieu has a big weight on her small shoulders with the significance of her character, but she does a really fine job with her performance. 

Does Cuckoo continue the great year of horror filmmaking in 2024? This one is unfortunately a bit of a mixed bag. The direction of Singer and the performance of Schafer certainly are the crown jewel of this film. Writing is where most of the issues arise and lets down this great concept quite a bit. There are plenty of clever ideas that are muddled with what feel like needless plot threads and excess characters who don’t add much to the overall story or experience. Cuckoo still nets a fun horror experience, and it might still get you thinking by the end.