Cuckoo, directed by Tilman Singer, is a sci-fi horror film that attempts to blend psychological thrills with supernatural elements, set against the picturesque yet eerie backdrop of the Bavarian Alps. And what starts as a fresh start quickly spirals into a series of unsettling and bizarre events that challenge the boundaries of reality and sanity — with a few credible ideas that struggle to live up to the film’s full potential.

A Strong Start

The film unexpectedly opens with a young woman stepping outside during a violent argument between her parents, only to be drawn into the woods by a mysterious screeching sound — and an odd, ear twitch as if the girl is something more than human. This essentially sets the tone for the rest of the movie, which is filled with eerie noises and unsettling occurrences centered around the film’s actual protagonist Gretchen, who moves with her father Luis, stepmother Beth, and mute half-sister Alma to a resort town where they are helping to build a new hotel. Herr König, the overseer of the hotel, offers Gretchen a job at the front desk, and it is here that the strange events begin to really unfold.

Gretchen encounters multiple female guests vomiting, Alma suffers seizures triggered by a mysterious shriek, and Gretchen herself has a terrifying encounter with a hooded woman that might just be one of the film’s strongest selling points. However, these incidents are dismissed by the local police causing her to attempt her own unraveling of the compelling mystery teased at the beginning of the film.

Creating an Immersive Backdrop

One of the film’s strengths is its eerie, atmospheric setting. The Bavarian Alps provide a stunning yet foreboding backdrop that enhances the film’s beautiful, yet tense mood. The cinematography by Paul Faltz captures the beauty and isolation of the location, making the audience feel both enchanted and trapped, much like Gretchen herself.

That said, as the film progresses and the sets become more insolated or even as they shift to in-door sets, the film strips away some of its commendable visual appeal and strictly relies on its narrative, which does remind us of some of its structural shortcomings.

Struggling with Coherence

Despite its strengths, Cuckoo sometimes struggles with its narrative coherence. The plot is filled with intriguing ideas, but they often feel underdeveloped or confusing. The film tries to juggle too many elements—psychological horror, supernatural occurrences, and family drama—without fully committing to any of them enough to fully validate these excursions. This results in a story that feels disjointed and leaves many questions unanswered.

The pacing is another issue. The film starts strong (and extremely bold), but it loses momentum as it progresses. The second half, in particular, drags with drawn-out scenes and a lack of significant plot development that lives up to our initial expectations. By the time the climax arrives, the tension has largely dissipated, and the resolution is endearing, but still underwhelming.

Moments of Thematic Intrigue

Cuckoo explores themes of grief, identity, and the nature of family. The title itself is a reference to the cuckoo bird, known for laying its eggs in other birds’ nests, which ties into the film’s exploration of brood parasitism. Alma, Gretchen’s mute half-sister, is revealed to be part of a near-human species that relies on this parasitic method to survive. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the story, raising questions about nature versus nurture and what it means to belong — also giving its title more significance to the actual plot of the film.

For the most part, Cuckoo also delves into the idea of control and manipulation. Herr König’s character embodies this theme, as he exerts control over the hotel, the guests, and ultimately, Gretchen and her family. His experiments with the cuckoo species highlight the ethical dilemmas of scientific experimentation and the consequences of playing God. Does it necessarily elevate this recurring theme? Not so much, but at least it takes a few big swings in the process.

Score: 6/10

For fans of psychological horror and supernatural thrillers, Cuckoo offers some impressive moments of genuine suspense and originality. However, its quirky pacing and presentation ultimately prevent Cuckoo from becoming a new classic.