Did I expect to dive into a horror movie completely based on the breeding habits of a bird? No. Does it make sense that it came out of Fantasia, the festival known for genre films and obscure ideas? Yes. Cuckoo was on my short list of things I needed to see at Fantasia 2024 as soon as I saw Hunter Schafer was involved. Every character I see her take on is enthralling, and I didn’t want to miss out.
Cuckoo follows Gretchen when she moves with her father (Marton Csokas), stepmother (Jessica Henwick) and stepsister (Mila Lieu) to what looks like a resort, seemingly isolating her from friends and her mother. She gets a job from the resort owner (Dan Stevens), but it comes with a lot of strange stipulations, and of course, as a 17-year-old, why would Gretchen listen to any rules? A strange creature appears after dark as she rides her bike home after work, very clearly trying to harm her.
At the same time, her younger, non-verbal stepsister is unwell, and they find themselves in the hospital at the same time after Gretchen is hurt in the chase. Their father clearly favours the younger sibling and doesn’t believe Gretchen was attacked, as police believe it was just a prank. Things only get more extreme from here, and the story twists and changes to completely alter the viewer’s sense of reality.
“Cuckoo was a strange, somewhat slow burn but one of the most intricate stories I saw at Fantasia this year.”
I won’t say that Cuckoo was my favourite film from Fantasia Festival 2024, but it was certainly the most interesting. For the first half, I was under the impression that the film took place in the 1980s due to ancient answering machines, cars, and telephones. Later on, we find characters using modern smartphones, which was a bit jarring given how dated everything felt.
I think writer and director Tilman Singer wanted viewers to feel as confused as Gretchen. It isn’t until someone begins to believe her story that we start seeing glimpses of the truth, both in the horrors taking place and the reality she had created for herself. Without spoiling too much of what happens, Singer managed to pull the mating habits of a cuckoo bird and weave them into an experimental sci-fi horror film, and the concept works really well.
The audio is especially unsettling in Cuckoo. Whether it’s listening to growl-like noises you might recognize from The Grudge, moist sounds when the creature finds its victim or a piercing scream it uses to stun its prey, the use of sound effects to create utter discomfort is continuous throughout. Many of the visuals are equally difficult to take in, and that brings me to some of the performances in Cuckoo.
“The audio is especially unsettling in Cuckoo.”
Hunter Schafer is not afraid to play ugly. Whether its angry, disturbed, distraught or in panic, Schaer is a usually beautiful person who can become hideous in an instant, and I mean that in the best way possible. Specifically, there is a scene where she is in a car wreck, tossed upside down, visibly battered. While she is in complete panic and upsidedown, blood is pouring from her mouth and chin directly into her eyes, turning the whites red. This in no way hindered the performance, and I could feel my eyes watering just watching. Schafer is the standout in Cuckoo, but that isn’t to say there aren’t other great performances.
Marton Csokas plays the fed-up father well, constantly reminding me of an angry Kevin Spacey. Dan Stevens plays a generic European villain, but I think that was the job assigned. He is likeable and loathed all at the same time. Handsome yet creepy, and something just never sits right. Jessica Henwicks is somewhat wasted as she falls into the background as stepmother Beth. Given her roles in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Matrix Resurrections and most notably, as Colleen Wing in Iron Fist and more from Marvel, I’m surprised she didn’t do more.
“Hunter Schafer is not afraid to play ugly.”
Little Mila Lieu as non-verbal Alma, though, was especially intriguing. It takes a lot to convey a story without words, and given her young age, I am incredibly impressed. I could feel her fear and her power when pushed to the limits. The story of Cuckoo was dark and twisted, and to see a child wrapped up in it was emotional for me, and she managed to pull at my heartstrings.
What finally won me over in Cuckoo, though, wasn’t the excellent audio, gross practical effects, or even the great acting. It was a single line that pulled every part of the story together, explaining why this creature was constantly coming after Gretchen. I won’t spoil things, but the way the whole story is tied together between the creature, her family, the resort, and even things we find out about Gretchen later on kept me on my toes. It wasn’t just killing for killing’s sake—it was smart and unique.
Cuckoo was a strange, somewhat slow burn but one of the most intricate stories I saw at Fantasia this year. Singer doesn’t have a lot of credits to his name yet, and he made some odd yet creative choices, which have me curious about what he brings to the screen next. With a standout cast, script and effects, Cuckoo is definitely a film to watch out for.
