A Simplistic (Fantasia Fest) Review: Cuckoo (2024)

A24 and Neon have been on a roll with films that just hit different.

With big studios being pre-occupied with tired IPs (a few exceptions remain) indie horror and suspense have been thriving just under the surface.

With ‘Longlegs’ becoming one of the juggernauts of horror in 2024, ‘Cuckoo’ starring Hunter Schafer has some big shoes to fill, but it does it admirably with a creepy, albeit, far-fetched premise that might not be for everyone, but I do admire how DIFFERENT this film is.

Schafer plays Gretchen who is taken to the German Alps with her father, step-mother and mute step-sister. Sometime is afoot of course, and it’s not just Dan Stevens’ German accent.

‘Cuckoo’ is an interesting film that reminds me at times of ‘Suspria’ and ‘The Cure for Wellness’ all brought together by a cast that makes the material work.

I hope studios like Neon, A24 and Annapurna keep indie horror alive. It’s what we need to combat the derivativeness of Blumhouse and the like.

Thanks to the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival for including ‘Cuckoo’ in this year’s programming.