2024 was a great year for horror,not only critically but commercially. The standard of movies was consistent and fans of the genre were treated to hit after hit. This did leave some hidden gems to slip under the radar, but one of the best is now available to stream and is waiting to be discovered.Cuckoofeels like cult and folk horror such asMidsommar,blending with the rise of unreliable narrators and surrealism, seen in the likes ofSmile 2andLonglegs. It is ambitious in its combination of horror tropes, but the end result is something mind-bending and completely unique.Cuckoois centered aroundHunter Schaferas unorthodox final girl Gretchen. TheEuphoriastar embraces the disorientation of the movie whilst also portraying the isolating experience of grief and loss. It is her performance that givesCuckooa grounded emotional core thatelevates it above psychedelics and ambitious filmmaking choices. Yes,Cuckoowill mess with your brain and leave you scrambling for answers, but it will also let you intothe psyche of a wounded child who is craving the comfort of the mother she lost.
Hunter Schafer Redefines the Final Girl in ‘Cuckoo’
Cuckoochooses an isolated retreat in the German Alps as its singular setting, with Gretchen unwillingly taken there with her dad, stepmom and younger stepsister Alma, who is mute. The family are greeted by the enigmatic Herr König (Dan Stevens), with Stevens giving a charming yet subtly sinister performance. The location is undeniably beautiful, with long wistful camera shots showing the expanse of nature. For most, this would be a relaxing destination that allows the mind to be rid of worry and doubt. However, for Gretchen, it becomes a prison for her thoughts and the isolation only causes her to feel more distant from her recently deceased mother.
‘Cuckoo’s Best Scene Isn’t Actually Scary at All
Grief is a powerful thing.
Schafer holdsCuckootogether.Without her, the movie is nowhere near as compelling. Her interpretation of a horror scream queen is unorthodox and offers a fresh perspective on the genre. She is apathetic and blunt, distancing herself from others as a form of self-preservation. Unlikethe usual archetype of final girls, she doesn’t have that burning curiosity to figure out what’s going on, putting herself in danger.There is no instinct for Gretchen to go exploring and attempt to uncover what is making the strange noises in the retreatand why some of the female residents are violently vomiting. Instead, she is uninterested in investigating, even falling asleep in a stakeout with fellow resident Henry (Jan Bluthardt),who is focused on uncovering the truth about the retreat.
However, this bold characterization doesn’t make Gretchen unlikable. It just serves to emphasize her sense of isolation, especially considering she is at the resort under duress and is evidently distant from her family. However, the best aspect of Schafer’s performance is the wayshe places grief at the center of hercharacterization. This representation is muted and understated, as she is internally grieving. Through this, Schafer shows that Gretchen isbottling up her emotions through passivity when talking to others and exploring her surroundings. Even when she comes face to face with the unnatural and inexplicable, she merely turns and walks away from the situation.
‘Cuckoo’ Creates Disorientation Through Its Manipulation of Time and Location
Cuckoocounters the subdued nature of Gretchen with ambitious visuals, manipulating not only sight but sound. The contrast of the audience surrogate only serves to heighten the psychedelic nature of the movie, causing constant dread and doubt. Whena mysterious figure appearsin front of Gretchen, the movie partners it with a high-pitched unnatural noise and utilizes the repetitive set design to make it feel as though Gretchen is going round in circles and the walls are closing in.
The trippy graphics create this dysphoria where the audience is screaming at Gretchen to get out. Yet, it flips this instinct by showing Gretchen’s attempt to escape, ending with her ending up straight back at the compound.There is this constant sense of melting reality and warped perception, which makes it hugely disorientating as a viewer.Cuckoodoesn’t just spatially manipulate its setting; there are temporal shifts thatshow how time isn’t linear within the retreat. It causes this feeling of helplessness as a viewer, as control is completely taken away. Through this shifted and fantastical reality created,Cuckoolingers in the half-space between comfort and absurdity. It welcomes the audience but doesn’t let them know the truth, leaving them stuck and confused in the best possible way.
