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Hunter Schafer and Kalin Morrow star in “Cuckoo.” (Image: Felix Dickinson, Courtesy of NEON)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CUCKOO-002-Still-1-Credit-Felix-Dickinson-Courtesy-of-NEON.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CUCKOO-002-Still-1-Credit-Felix-Dickinson-Courtesy-of-NEON.jpg?fit=780%2C440&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>Nestled among the scenic Bavarian Alps lies a resort run by a demented pied piper named Herr König (Dan Stevens). Strange occurrences happen daily. Tourists walk around like zombies, there’s loud screeching in the woods, and a mysterious woman (Kalin Morrow) in sunglasses and a hoodie has been seen lurking on the property. When 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) visits with her parents, a few feathers get ruffled in the eccentric horror film from writer-director Tilman Singer.Gretchen embodies the same bewilderment displayed by teen protagonist Mike Pearson (A. Michael Baldwin) in the 1979 fantasy horror film “Phantasm” directed by Don Coscarelli. Singer draws several parallels to the 45-year-old horror classic, including themes of death, grieving, and family, compounded by surreal images (up David Cronenberg’s alley) guaranteed to give you nightmares.The film opens in the German Alps with what resembles a young girl fleeing an abusive home. Her parents are heard arguing in the background. Something sinister is happening, evident by the arrival of König, the film’s villain, who’s left to clean up the mess.Enter the Vanderkurt family. Teenager Gretchen has reluctantly been forced to move with her father, Luis (Marton Csokas), stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and mute stepsister Alma (Mila Lieu) from America to Germany after her mother’s death. Part of Gretchen’s grieving process involves calling her mom’s old answering machine to hear her voice and leave a message.“How was your journey?” asks König as the Vanderkurts arrive. Stevens’ impeccable German accent comes from the actor’s ability to speak the language fluently. “Very pleasant, thank you,” replies Beth, an architect like her husband, who moved here to help König plan a new resort.To help Gretchen avoid boredom, König gives the teen (who carries a butterfly knife) a job at the resort’s front desk. It doesn’t take long to notice that she’s working in the Alps version of The Overlook Hotel. Why are the guests vomiting all the time? And why does it sound like the nearby woods are filled with Pod People from “Invasion of the Body Snatchers?”Jan Bluthardt, who played the doctor in Singer’s 2018 demonic feature,“Luz,” is back—this time, he’s playing Henry, a police investigator determined to stop König from doing whatever he’s doing (no spoilers here).The supporting cast includes Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a resort guest who catches Gretchen’s attention, Greta Fernández as Gretchen’s frivolous coworker Trixie, whose cop boyfriend Erik (Konrad Singer) is throwing out “Reno 911!” vibes, and Proschat Madani as König’s assistant, Dr. Bonomo. The quirky cast is straight out of a David Lynch film.Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens are credible antagonists. The “Euphoria” actress is terrific as the film’s final girl, and Stevens is pitch-perfect as the diabolical yet charming flute-playing Herr König, whose musical notes are worthy of Witchiepoo’s attention.“Cuckoo” doesn’t rely on jumpscares for frights, nor does it include graphic violence. Instead, the film slowly builds tension. There are several frightening visuals and a terrific scene that involves Gretchen riding her bike at night while being stalked. DP Paul Faltz, shooting on 35mm, uses the streetlights to heighten the threat, visualized by the shadows on the road.The term “weird” is overused these days. I’ve seen some people use it to refer to “Cuckoo.” However, Tilman Singer’s new nightmare is no more eccentric than the work of the filmmakers mentioned in this review. Peculiarity and horror walk hand in hand.After watching “Cuckoo,” I left the theater excited, as I had felt after seeing “Phantasm” in 1979. And for that, I thank Singer for helping me remember what it felt like to be a teenager and why I embrace this genre so much.“Cuckoo” is bold, berserk, and visionary.(3 ½ stars)Now showing in theaters.