Horror is undeniably in the spotlight right now, and it’s been thriving for the last few years, with independent production companies like A24 and Neon leading the charge. These entities, along with internet comedians venturing into filmmaking, have been delivering a rich diet for horror fans—whether they crave gore, cerebral plots, or anything in between.
One film that exemplifies the genre’s current vibe is Cuckoo, a sort-of-monster movie that embraces the weird, transgressive nature of horror. Directed by Tilman Singer, Cuckoo mixes a variety of tones and themes but never fully commits to any one of them. This thematic shiftiness and its raw, unpolished narrative might limit its immediate appeal but make it an ideal candidate for cult status in the future. Its recent success on Hulu—debuting as the fourth most-watched film on the U.S. charts—suggests that it might be on its way to that status.
The film stars Hunter Schafer in her first leading role as Gretchen, an American teenager who, after the death of her mother, moves to the Bavarian Alps to live with her father, stepmother, and half-sister Alma. Struggling with grief, unfamiliar surroundings, and a strange job with even stranger rules, Gretchen’s life takes a darker turn when she becomes entangled in a family conspiracy involving a mysterious monster with sinister motives.
Cuckoo is particularly intriguing because it refuses to settle on a single tone or theme. It dabbles in dread, humor, familial tension, isolation, and queerness, but never fully immerses itself in any of them. This mishmash of genres and moods could be seen as indecisive, making the film feel a little all over the place. However, it could also be interpreted as a deliberate creative choice, with Singer exploring the emotional complexity of his characters and themes, even if he doesn’t fully commit to any one of them. This reluctance to settle on a single theme or tone may leave some feeling unsatisfied, but it also creates an unusual, layered experience that challenges audiences to embrace its oddness.
The film premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February, before slowly making its way to theaters in August, and ultimately landing on Hulu on December 17. With its unique mix of surreal horror and dark humor, Cuckoo has the potential to find its niche among fans of offbeat, unconventional horror cinema.