Skip to main content

Cuckoo (2024)

 

Cuckoo is about a teenager who has to survive a family retreat to Germany where stuff just isn't what it looks like.

Writer/director Tilman Singer does a great job of out-of-the-gate writing as this is his second film. There are some issues but they're really few and far between. The main problem with the film wasn't even his fault. All of the scary scenes were in the trailer. It's a problem with many horror films nowadays. Singer also makes a few directorial problems with when to focus the camera on the main character.

Speaking of the main character, Hunter Schafer carries the film and sells the final girl but also the root-worthy heroine. I know she's not known for this but she has a video game that's coming out by the legendary Hideo Kojima that after seeing this film has really made me believe in her acting ability.

Legion himself, Dan Stevens plays the main villain. While not the monster, he plays the conduit that adds tension and mystery to the film. His filmography is all over the place with some good and some over the top. Here, I have no complaints.

Let's get this out of the way, by the half way point of the film you'll have a theory. That theory will be correct and I'm sure plenty of content-hungry YouTubers will post a "Cuckoo explained" video. Don't bother, your theory is correct. The film has some good terror, a slow start, and some cut-worthy scenes. Result: B+

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forgotten Island (2026)

Forgotten Island is another animated misfit-girl movie, this time pairing a rebellious, misunderstood girl with a nerdy, misunderstood girl. It feels like another Turning Red , Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken , or Nimona , and this is starting to become a pretty obvious trope. Not every animated movie needs to revolve around an outcast girl discovering herself while everyone else fails to understand her. The movie also leans into the isekai trope, sending its characters into another world, but the writing never does enough to make the familiar premise feel fresh especially with the predictable betrayal. Thankfully, the animation is great, and the cinematography does an excellent job making the world visually interesting. The directors also seem to think they are Edgar Wright , with transitions that occasionally feel more interested in showing off than serving the story. H.E.R. delivers the best performance of the main cast, bringing plenty of personality to her character. Unfortunately,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Animals (2026)

Animals is written and directed by Ben Affleck , who has shown with films like Argo and The Town that he can be a solid filmmaker when everything comes together. Unfortunately, Animals is all over the place. The movie is filled with race pandering, victim blaming, West-hating dialogue, and situations that fall apart if you spend more than five minutes thinking about them. The characters frequently make decisions that do not make sense, and the story struggles to convince you that any of this is unfolding naturally. Ben Affleck is equally inconsistent as an actor. There are moments when he is on point, but others where he veers into overacting. His crying, in particular, feels more annoying than emotionally convincing. Instead of making the audience feel what his character is going through, the performance can pull you right out of the scene. It is frustrating because Affleck has demonstrated that he can deliver much stronger performances, but this is not one of them. Gillian Ande...
Post a Comment
Read more

Angel and the Badman (2026)

Angel and the Badman is a remake directed by Julio Quintana , bringing a new take on the classic Western originally associated with John Wayne . This version stars Zachary Levi and Neal McDonough , two actors who have often been described as blacklisted in Hollywood. The movie takes a different approach from what you might expect, placing less emphasis on action and more on its underlying message. While there are a few scenes that could have been shortened, I can understand what Quintana was trying to accomplish with this remake. Zachary Levi , best known for Chuck and Shazam! , is charismatic and fits the role well. His portrayal of John Wayne's original character gives the film a different personality without making it feel like he is simply trying to imitate Wayne. Levi carries the movie effectively, and his performance is one of the main reasons the remake works as well as it does. Neal McDonough , known for Band of Brothers and his many villain roles, brings a sinister q...
Post a Comment
Read more