[SXSW 2024] CUCKOO -- Nonsensical Horror Movie Is a Gonzo Blast

Review by Sean Boelman

Courtesy of NEON / Hunter Schafer in CUCKOO | Credit: Felix Dickinson.

Tillman Singer’s directorial debut, Luz, was a gnarly little movie that has gained a cult following among the horror community. The German filmmaker’s sophomore feature, Cuckoo, is a step up in scale — boasting A-list stars in Hunter Schaefer and Dan Stevens and the backing of the indie darling studio NEON. Although Cuckoo is not quite as strong as his first film, it’s still an enjoyable work of genre cinema.

The movie follows a teenager forced to move with her family to a resort in the German Alps, only to discover that her new home (and its owner) harbors a mysterious and dangerous secret. It plays out like a mixture of psychological horror and a creature feature — almost like The Shining if it were a monster movie — and while it’s incredibly flawed, it’s also very fun to watch.

Singer’s choice of the cuckoo bird as a motif certainly has some clear symbolism, particularly when we get into the third act, but this commentary feels very superficial. It’s as if Singer was interested in the idea of the symbol more than he was in the ways he could use this symbol to say something interesting or insightful.

The film is also held back by its generic character development. The protagonist is a teenage girl with a dead mother and disillusionment with her father. The father is a well-meaning guy manipulated by his boss, who seems to be hiding a secret. It’s all stuff we’ve seen dozens of times before.

Yet despite the underwhelming material they are given, the cast brings their A-game to their roles. Of the many actresses who have attempted to become the “next scream queen,” Hunter Schaefer is probably the most successful thus far. Her reactiveness in the early portions of the movie perfectly gives way to strength in the final act. Dan Stevens goes absolutely nuts in his supporting role, giving the exact type of hammy, campy performance that a film like this calls for.

If you try to make sense of anything Singer is trying to do in Cuckoo, you’ll easily be able to pick it into a million pieces. However, if you just let its… well… cuckoo-ness wash over you, it’s a ridiculous midnight movie blast. Perhaps this is unintentional — for all we know, Singer might have been trying to make the next serious horror masterpiece — but what we have is a silly, entertaining work of genre cinema.

Credit where it’s due, Cuckoo is assuredly not a B-movie. For all its storytelling contrivances and indulgences, this is a legitimately well-made film from a technical standpoint. The sound design is exquisite, being one of the main methods Singer uses to immerse the viewer in the movie’s atmosphere. There is also some awesome work here in the departments of production design, costuming, hair and make-up, and more.

Cuckoo is hardly a great film. It’s silly and nonsensical — perhaps even stupid. However, Tillman Singer has an incredible command of his craft and the ability to build such an effective horror atmosphere that the result is exceptionally entertaining despite its many flaws.

Cuckoo screened at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which runs March 8-16 in Austin, TX.

Rating: 3.5/5