Hunter Schafer

In “Cuckoo,” Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) embarks on a journey to the German Alps with her father and stepmother, seeking a tranquil retreat. However, her idyllic vacation takes a dark turn when she stumbles upon ominous secrets in the holiday resort. Strange noises echo through the Alpine landscape, and Gretchen is haunted by unsettling visions featuring a mysterious woman. As she delves deeper, she becomes entangled in a conspiracy linked to the bizarre experiments of the resort owner, stretching back through generations. Tilman Singers film premise is promising: set against the backdrop of the scenic German Alps, with Hunter Schafer taking on the lead role. However, as the narrative unfolds, “Cuckoo” struggles to execute its story effectively, getting stuck in its own maze of twists and plot holes that make it challenging and frustrating for the audience to keep up. The first half of the movie proved to be way more compelling than the latter, which seemed to drag on unnecessarily and resulted in a predictable and unsatisfying ending. One saving grace was Hunter Schafer’s splendid performance, she managed to add a lot of depth and emotion into her character, providing a much needed lifeline for the film. She seamlessly fits into the horror genre, bringing an unexpected yet captivating dimension to her performance in “Cuckoo.” Proving that she’s not only very skilled in drama, but also a natural fit for horror films, and I hope we see her lean into the genre more in the future. The cinematography was beautiful and really enhanced the visual experience. The music and sound design also contributed to the eerie atmosphere. In conclusion, “Cuckoo” displayed creative potential but sadly fell short in its realization and disappoints in its execution. -Mel