[Fantasia ’24] ‘Cuckoo’ review: Stylish horror is mind bending ride

Cuckoo is a stylish horror movie screening at the Fantasia Film Festival. Gretchen (Hunter Schafer, Euphoria) has moved to the Bavarian Alps with her father and stepmother. Not wanting to be there, she constantly calls her mother who is back in the United States. Between sending voicemails to her mother, Gretchen must also contend with a series of odd occurrences involving sick guests at the resort she has taken a job. On top of all that, a creepy woman seems to have an interest in her.

While the film introduces a number of characters, it essentially serves as a showcase for Schafer. Despite being built on a foundation of Final Girl tropes – her parents think she is hysterical, for example – there is more to her than heavy bandages and teenaged brooding. Gretchen has all the resourcefulness and personality that makes for an endearing protagonist. Whether it is quiet moments of contemplation or frantic encounters involving brain numbing cacaws, Schafer is engaging. 

Regrettably, the same cannot be said for all of the other characters. Her stepmother Beth (Jessica Henwick, Game of Thrones) seems to be there to be an antagonist to Gretchen, but she never does anything particularly sinister. Her father Luis (Marton Csokas, The Last Duel) has more depth to him, but it is not enough to form an opinion of him.

Dan Stevens as the mysterious Mr. Konig is fantastic, however. The pleasant attitude is over the top and the villainy borders on cartoonish in a combination of qualities that would make someone overbearing in real life but a delight to watch on screen. Some of the best moments in Cuckoo involve him just interacting with others.

The movie sets up a creepy atmosphere that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The beautiful setting is the perfect contrast to the uneasiness that hangs over everything.. The excellent score also adds to the feeling of discomfort. Cuckoo is more about providing an experience than telling a story. This will not sit well with everyone. The first two acts take time creating a tone, before the third act dives headlong into chaos. Even in its quieter moments, Cuckoo does not take too much time explaining things. There is enough to know what is going on, but just barely. And anyone looking for motivation will be disappointed.

Cuckoo may not pack the emotional punch it is going for in its tale of grief, but the scares are very effective. The villain is a hell of a lot of fun and Schafer holds her own as the increasingly injured hero. It may not reveal all of its secrets, but it is a hell of a ride.

The Fantasia International Film Festival takes places from July 18 – August 4. Check out the latest news HERE

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