Green forests, sunny meadows, the alpine panorama on top of it – for 17 year old Gretchen (Hunter Shafer), it’s postcard kitsch ideal from hell. She reluctantly moves with her father (Marton Csokas) and stepmother (Jessica Henwick) from her home in the US to a Lower Bavarian province. Her father is supervising a building extension. The vacation domicile is abandoned in the off-season. Gretchen is alone with her grief over her recently deceased mother in this boring wasteland. Only Herr König (Dan Stevens), the manager, shows a strange interest in the teenager and her half-sister, seven year old Alma (Mila Lieu). He gives Gretches a job at the hotel reception, where she is soon witness to strange nighttime events and sets out to find out the secret of this seemingly peaceful resort.

In his second feature film, Tilman Singer (LUZ) confidently plays with American clichés about Germany: Bavaria and the mountains. In this spooky fairytale world, he tells his horror story and quotes from across the history of the genre. The hotel lobby is purposefully reminiscent of THE SHINING, the plot gradually develops into Cronenbergian body horror. Hunter Shafer, known for her role in the series “Euphoria“ does a great job as the lone fighter against evil. Dan Stevens, who already proved his German skills in Maria Schrader’s ICH BIN DEIN MENSCH, lets loose as the diabolical antagonist. Singer, who shot his film in 35mm, is focused on atmosphere with impressive sound and sets. CUCKOO was well-received at the Berlinale and Sundance because of it.

Lars Tunçay

Translation: Elinor Lewy