Cuckoo (2024)

Cuckoo (2024). 1h 42m | R

“Cuckoo is a movie that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. The story follows a girl who moves to a remote resort in Germany with her father, stepmother, and stepsister, and from the moment they arrive, you know something isnu0026#39;t quite right. The locations are breathtaking and the cinematography is absolutely stunning with its vibrant colours and rich textures that really make the film stand out. The visuals of this film is one of the strongest. They are creepy and effective that the film builds on so well.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat really surprised me about Cuckoo was how unpredictable it was. This is the kind of movie where youu0026#39;re constantly asking, u0026quot;What the hell is happening?u0026quot; but in the best way possible. The story is so unique and super interesting, with a unique idea that feels fresh in the horror genre.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne of the standouts for me was the creature mother. She wasnu0026#39;t exactly scary, but she was definitely unsettling, especially with her red eyes. What made her so creepy was how she looked like an ordinary person, yet there was something off about her.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere are a lot of good and interesting ideas in this movie, but it feels like they didnu0026#39;t fully follow through on them. Itu0026#39;s as if they werenu0026#39;t quite sure how far to take things or where exactly to go with them. I think they could have pushed the creepy and scary elements further. A bit more of that would have made the film even stronger. There are scenes where the tension and atmosphere work really well, but they donu0026#39;t capitalize on these moments enough to use them more effectively.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWith that being said, I do think the pacing could have been a bit tighter. There were moments where I wished things moved along faster. The film didnu0026#39;t drag, but if it had been cut down to 90 minutes, I think it would have been more effective and could have made the overall experience better.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI think this is a movie that might require a second viewing to fully understand everything thatu0026#39;s going on. There are layers to the story that may not be immediately clear, but thatu0026#39;s part of what makes Cuckoo so intriguing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHunter Schafer is phenomenal as Gretchen. She brings so much depth to the character. I hope to see her in more horror roles.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, Cuckoo is a visually stunning and unpredictable film that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Itu0026#39;s definitely worth watching, especially if you enjoy horror that keeps you guessing.”