Cuckoo

Saw it at Berlinale - Hunter Schafer is good and we, on a emotional level, really believe everything she is asked to do by the director. Her performance ankers this movie, there isn't much to complain about on her part. The main reason why this movie does not work is the main antagonist - from the first time we see him he comes of as strange, not in a creepy or uncanny way which this movie would have needed but like he didn't belong into this movie. The character is obviously supposed to be off-putting and mysterious with an eccentric touch but apart from the latter his performance fails to convey this. The plot gets more and more obscure with time, and it is clear a somewhat logical ending will not be possible. Which a movie does not necessarily need by the way! But it tries to string it together and that does not work, it becomes laughable at times and misses it's mark. Not to mention the irrational choices made by the other family members. Maybe the way it tries to explain itself is what ultimately breaks it. The multiple tonal shifts and pace changes as it gets closer to the credits result in losing emotional connection, but I can see how they could work for some viewers. A performance that really worked besides Schafers is her young sister. The cinematography is good. It may get you with some jump scares but if you are familiar with the genre you will see most of them coming.

Cuckoo is a movie in a genre I love, and in a subgenre I frequently enjoy. I also regularly love complex movies that keep you guessing. I also love really weird movies. To say "this movie is not for me" would be inaccurate. Yet I pretty much hated it.

As the movie went along, I understood less and less. I couldn't fully grasp what was happening. I kept telling myself to be patient, and maybe it will pay off. But nope. There is nothing satisfying if you wait it out. And there are tons of unanswered questions and things that make no sense.

But the biggest failure is the inability to make me care about the characters or story at all. During the climax, I repeatedly thought, "I don't care." I just wanted it to end so I could go home.

There are some creepy moments. I'm a fan of actors Dan Stevens and Jessica Henwick, but they aren't given much to do. And in the end, I had a terrible time with this movie.

(1 viewing, opening night 8/8/2024)

Okay. Sorry in advance for the rant.

Great buildup. Eerie atmosphere. An unusual isolated location. A compelling mystery. Imagery that's creepy in an uncanny way. Some interesting ideas. A visual style (and a couple other elements) that reminded me (positively) of A Cure for Wellness.

However, while something like the slasher genre can afford to have a number of unlikable characters due to their large casts and the fact that the majority of them are meant to be unsympathetic in order to grant a sense of catharsis when they're killed horribly, focused thrillers with one lead that you're supposed to be rooting for don't benefit from the same allowance. In Cuckoo, Gretchen has literally nothing to recommend her. Until a point halfway through the movie (which isn't hidden but she treats like any other so you kind of forget about it despite it completely changing her motivations), she's unfailingly moody, rude, incompetent, stupid, ungrateful, selfish, reckless, arrogant, lazy, awkward, aggressive, dishonest, entitled, and insincere, and despite all that, she's indescribably boring, ensuring that one couldn't care less what happens to her because she fails to display even a single positive personality trait. I actually had to triple-check to make sure it wasn't the same writer as Dark, the paragon of creating uninteresting, unlikable characters. Though Schafer's acting doesn't do her any favors either.

Besides that, there's sloppy, repetitive exposition and some glaring scientific/logical problems if you think about the plentiful explanations they provide for more than 5 seconds. I only finished it because Dan Stevens' charm, combined with the aforementioned elements, made it watchable, but jeez it was a slog.

Would not recommend.

Few nice ideas are falling apart with really bad scenario at the end. The movie wants to be a horror, but at the end it becomes kinda bad and silly action movie. With a bad acting, non logic actions and hilarious staging.

I really live the ideas of creatures. Instead of fierys from debut picture of "Watchers", "Cuckoo" really has something new to offer.

And it evolving really good until 75% of the movie when everything starts to fall apart. Seems like screen writer did not know what to do with all of the beautiful concept he made.

Never let the movie break into different genres when you don't know what to do Mr. Screenwriter.

While its narrative and style feels incoherent, the interesting atmosphere, beautiful camera work, and bizarre stylistic choices does offer some genuine fun moments.

Tilman Singer's direction on the camerawork, atmosphere, and style does offer some fun in-sights with its narrative, concept, and the characters in the setting and environment. Including great sound designs and great performances from Hunter Schafer & Dan Stevens. Schafer's energy and Stevens chaotic devilish personality within his character was entertaining to observe. Including some solid dialogue moments.

The writing and concepts are interesting but unfortunately loses focus within itself and feels way too silly. There are clear tones that it's being approached as a B-movie or giallo horror approach but the movie does take itself a bit too seriously at times which makes it not understand what it wants to be at times. Including dull characters and pacing problems.

Nevertheless, it's still a decent German horror flick with some great moments but I wish it did feel more coherent.