Cuckoo
Directed by Tilman SingerAfter reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father and his new family, Gretchen discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she's plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
- Paulo Coelho AlvesOctober 9, 2024Plays out like an über-stylish nightmare, light in logic but that hardly matters when the vibes are this on point. The German Alps setting and its maddeningly vague time period, the color grading and score, the way every character is just on the right side of odd on the David Lynch spectrum - it all comes together beautifully, sometimes terrifyingly, other times hilariously, often all of those things at once. Hunter Schafer's Gretchen takes enough beatings to put John McClane to shame and does it with a lot more style, and Dan Stevens is clearly having a blast putting on a German accent and dialing his weirdness all the way up.
- rg9400November 1, 2024I saw the mixed reviews for Cuckoo and decided to watch it anyways because the reviews indicated strong performances by Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, both of whom I like a lot, as well as commenting on a strong atmosphere despite a questionable and confusing plot. The trailer had given me strong Wayward Pines, Stepford Wives, Don't Worry Darling vibes -- all stories that while flawed had an entertaining atmosphere with the concept of this idyllic town with darkness lurking underneath. I left the movie with a very different impression compared to reviewers. I actually thought the plot was fairly straightforward and not very confusing. Yeah, some plot points don't really go anywhere, e.g. [spoiler] what the hell happens with her father and his wife [/spoiler]. But it wasn't confusing or vague I think, though I also didn't find it particularly interesting either. However, I did not find strong atmospheric vibes from this movie. The town lacks personality and the setting does not make any sort of impression. Outside of a couple characters, you don't even get the sense that there are people in the town. It also lacked scares and tension. There are some stylistic choices that were certainly different but kind of grated on me a bit. Where this movie really works, and what the reviewers accurately mentioned, is the very fun acting of Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens. Even if it isn't intentionally campy, both of them give it a great B-movie vibe that makes it a lot more entertaining than if it was led by other actors.
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025This is my Lady Bird Hunter Schafer final girl has arrived. Did not know what to expect and I definitely did not expect that. The film holds its mystery pretty close to the vest. There’s obviously something very strange going on with this Bavarian Alps resort town, but the film takes its time unfurling its secrets and beating the hell out of Schafer’s Gretchen in the mean time. Dan Steven’s is wonderfully smarmy as Herr König, the enigmatic owner of the secluded resort. The rest should be left up to your own discovery. While I don’t really love what resorts actual secret is, it was certainly fun getting there. And there are some thematic layers to dig into regarding family dynamics, grief (of course) as well as women’s health (bodily autonomy) which could allow the aspects I didn’t love to grow on me. Loved the atmosphere and the sounds design. There’s a great sequence where Schafer rides her bike down a wooded lane that is really well executed utilizing lighting, moving shadows, framing, etc. Strong 3.5, but I waffled between 3.5 and 4. (Edit: I’m going with 4 now. Lots of shots keep replaying through my head.)
- Hipster ZOMBIENovember 17, 2025I put off watching Cuckoo thinking I would one day watch it and find out why some reviewers hold it in high regard. And why so many people are enamored with its star Hunter Schafer. Despite some beautiful cinematography and a great sense of atmospheric horror and isolation, the film is a confusing, boring snore fest. As for its star, Schafer is a lifeless husk that shambles around from scene to scene. If you are looking for a suspenseful horror movie, look anywhere else.
- jackmeatJune 21, 2025My quick rating - 6.0/10. Tilman Singer’s Cuckoo is a moody, surreal psychological thriller that dips its toes into horror but never quite submerges. It’s an atmospheric slow-burn with stylish flair, oddball characters, and a strong lead performance from Hunter Schafer, though it stumbles a bit in deciding exactly what kind of movie it wants to be. The story follows Gretchen (Schafer), who moves reluctantly to a remote resort in the German Alps with her father and his new family. Almost immediately, things feel off. She starts experiencing eerie noises, strange visions, and the unnerving presence of a mysterious woman who appears to be stalking her. The town feels like it’s hiding something sinister—and, of course, it is. Buried on my watchlist for a while, I’m glad I finally got around to this one. It’s a film full of quirks—unusual supporting characters, jarring tonal shifts, and an experimental approach to structure and cinematography. Some of the camerawork is quite creative, lending the whole piece a dreamlike (or nightmarish) quality that works in its favor. It’s the kind of film that leans heavily into its visuals to build tension more than plot progression. Dan Stevens delivers yet another solid performance as the villain, playing a role that gradually escalates from charmingly off-putting to downright sinister. Without diving into spoiler territory, let’s just say he’s toying with some seriously disturbing god complex territory. The core of the mystery hinges on what he’s doing at the resort, and while the film never fully unpacks the mechanics of it, the disturbing implications are clear enough to land. There's a biological horror angle lurking beneath the surface that gives the whole thing an extra layer of discomfort. Schafer does the heavy lifting here, carrying the film with a raw, occasionally vulnerable performance. Gretchen is no helpless victim, but she’s also not always making the smartest decisions, which, of course, is practically a horror tradition. Still, Schafer sells both the defiance and the fear, anchoring the film even when its tone wavers. And that’s the biggest issue with Cuckoo—it doesn’t always know what it wants to be. At times, it flirts with Lynchian dread, other moments feel like Get Out-lite social horror, and there’s even some sci-fi horror flavor mixed in. It’s admirably ambitious and always visually engaging, but the genre-jumping leaves the film feeling somewhat scattered. There’s an “identity crisis” at play here that keeps it from excelling in any one area, though it succeeded at keeping me intrigued. Ultimately, Cuckoo is an odd, artistic trip that doesn’t explain itself fully, and maybe doesn’t need to. It’s more about the atmosphere, the unease, and the creepy sense that something is very wrong in this isolated place. If you’re okay with a bit of ambiguity and enjoy stylized horror-tinged thrillers, this one’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect all the answers to be handed to you.
Cuckoo Trivia
Cuckoo was released on August 8, 2024.
Cuckoo was directed by Tilman Singer.
Cuckoo has a runtime of 1h 42m.
Cuckoo was produced by Josh Rosenbaum, Ken Kao, Thor Bradwell, Maria Tsigka, Markus Halberschmidt, Ben Rimmer.
After reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father and his new family, Gretchen discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she's plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
The key characters in Cuckoo are Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), Henry (Jan Bluthardt), Luis (Marton Csokas).
Cuckoo is rated R.
Cuckoo is a Thriller, Horror, Mystery film.
Cuckoo has an audience rating of 5.8 out of 10.
Cuckoo had a budget of $7M.
Cuckoo has made $6.7M at the box office.