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Berlinale 2024: Tilman Singer’s ‘Cuckoo’ is Extra Horror Excellence
by Alex Billington
February 17, 2024
It is solely February and two of the perfect horror movies of 2024 have already premiered. The primary is the Sundance Midnight horror hit It is What’s Inside (my evaluate) which many different critics listed as the most effective movies from the Sundance Movie Pageant. The second is the German horror movie Cuckoo, which simply premiered on the 2024 Berlin Movie Pageant. This one actually ought to’ve been taking part in within the normally spectacular Sundance Midnight line-up as effectively, however as a German manufacturing from a German filmmaker, it is apparent why the movie ended up premiering at Berlinale as an alternative. Cuckoo is one other tremendous contemporary, wholly authentic, fully participating, suspenseful, extremely entertaining, decidedly campy horror creation that’s more likely to go on to grow to be an iconic movie within the horror style. The assured filmmaking decisions, the villain(s), the lead character, the mountain resort setting, all of it’s so distinctive & thrilling on this glorious style creation from filmmaker Tilman Singer.
Cuckoo is the second characteristic movie written and directed by German filmmaker Tilman Singer, following his characteristic debut Luz from a number of years again (which is already a cult fave amongst horror followers). His follow-up is Cuckoo and he has an excellent larger playground to play on this time with extra monetary help. It is produced & developed by the US indie distributor Neon, with Fiction Park and Waypoint Leisure. With their help, Singer has overcome the sophomore droop to rock us with one other distinct horror film. Hunter Schafer stars a younger lady named Gretchen, who’s caught touring round Europe together with her father – now relationship a brand new lady after her mom handed away a 12 months prior. They drive to a wierd, mysterious, outdated resort within the German Alps to spend a number of days. Her father is aware of the proprietor of this place and is assembly with him to complete some enterprise earlier than they go off and begin their very own resort. One thing unusual is occurring and it would not take lengthy for issues to get tremendous bizarre – different visitors puking randomly, peculiar individuals coming & going, and odd noises at night time. Clearly there’s one thing extra occurring right here up at this mountain resort…
This movie is filled with the type of spectacular, assured directing that I’m at all times excited to see. The eerie atmospheric mountain resort setting, unimaginable use of shadows (a number of eerie shadow pictures are unforgettably superior), a creepy screaming sound used all through, freaky characters, and a classic appear and feel to the entire movie. I’ve a number of minor points with some story decisions however total the movie is a blast! It is the most effective new horrors I’ve encountered to date between Sundance and Berlinale – and I’ve feeling many moviegoers are going to flip for this as soon as it hits theaters. It is one thing model new but it feels immediately iconic within the style already, particularly the “screamer” girls – the idea is superior and units up a much bigger thriller behind what goes down. It isn’t a supernatural story of somebody possessed and that is it. There’s extra occurring! There’s a number of good twists! There’s an unsettling undercurrent of “WTF is occurring right here” all through! To work all this into one movie shouldn’t be a straightforward activity, but Singer is greater than succesful, proving he’s on the trail to turning into as acclaimed as different fashionable horror filmmakers like Ari Aster and Jordan Peele.
A part of the genius of this movie is how campy and amusing it’s, with out being tacky or ridiculous, which is what makes it such a blast to observe. There’s even a creepy cuckoo clock in it, not that it issues a lot, however that is an instance of Singer figuring out how you can make terrific horror cinema that makes you chortle and scream. One of the best half about Cuckoo is the efficiency from Dan Stevens – with one other good, good function that nobody will ever overlook taking part in a wierd German man (additionally see: I am Your Man). What a legend! Hunter Schafer can also be spectacular, taking up problem a task that evolves over the course of the movie’s 102 minutes. I actually cherished watching this movie with an viewers, and I am glad nearly everybody else was buzzing about it as effectively. It slays! That is what fashionable horror ought to aspire to be – intelligent and warranted, thrilling and pleasing, eschewing spinoff concepts for one thing that is singular and outstanding. And do not forget your switchblade.
Alex’s Berlinale 2024 Ranking: 9 out of 10
Observe Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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