Fantasia Film Festival Review: CUCKOO Fascinates With Timeless Horror

Courtesy NEON

By Amylou Ahava

Tilman Singer’s latest film, CUCKOO, is intriguingly a hybrid of horror, comedy, and family drama set in a health resort in the breathtaking Bavarian Alps. While the film occasionally flutters off course with its writing and overall plot, its stunning visuals, talented cast, and uniquely eerie monster design make it a fascinating watch.

From the opening scene, CUCKOO draws in viewers with its enchanting visuals. The resort lobby, which is as picturesque as a postcard, sets a spellbinding stage. The unfortunate teenage Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) unwillingly moves to the secluded mountain town with her dad, stepmom, and half-sister Alma (Mila Lieu).

The young Alma does not speak. Ever since the family moved to the resort, she has started experiencing seizure-like fits. With one adorable child in need of medical care and unlimited attention, Gretchen’s moody teenage angst becomes an irritant to her parents, and she becomes largely neglected.

The cast is one of the feathers in the film’s cap, with standout performances from Schafer and Dan Stevens as the sinister lodge proprietor, Mr. König. Stevens steals every scene he is in. His performance is a delightful mix of menace and dark humor, all highlighted by his exaggerated German accent - you will love how he pronounces Gretchen - and mustache-twirling antics. Stevens clearly relishes his role and adds a layer of campy fun to the film that makes the film border between horror and comedy.

Visually, the cinematography captures the serene beauty of the Austrian landscape, which creates an almost shocking contrast when the horror elements hatch later in the film. The relationship between light and shadow, along with the carefully curated color palette, is both beautiful and unsettling. There’s a fusion of timelessness, partially due to the location of the film’s story, with modernity

Courtesy NEON

One of the best achievements of CUCKOO is its monster design. The practical effects used to bring the monster to life are impressive and create a sense of horror that I feel digital effects often fail to achieve. The monster’s appearance (and the piercing sound it makes) contributes significantly to the film’s creepy atmosphere and is not something you want to meet late at night.

However, despite these strong points, CUCKOO lays a few rotten eggs in its writing and plot. Though brimming with potential, the narrative occasionally feels like a nest of ideas that never quite come together. The first two acts set up a fun mystery and effectively build quite a bit of tension.

The third act spirals out of control due to plot holes and unresolved storylines. This affects the film’s tone, which occasionally flutters between horror, comedy, and drama, never fully settling on one. The story's direction is predictable, but the narrative introduces just enough quirkiness to make you think it might take a different path.

Despite this, CUCKOO is a visually stunning film with strong performances and an intriguing monster design. The film’s strengths make it a fascinating watch, even if the plot occasionally shows a few cracks. The movie is a mixed bag of creative ideas that still offer an entertaining experience.

While CUCKOO may not soar to the heights it aspires to, it certainly finds its own unique perch in the horror genre.

CUCKOO played as a part of the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival. It is now playing in theaters.