Cuckoo provides a change of scenery along with a nightmare that made my head spin. The film is written and directed by Tilman Singer, a German filmmaker who takes his audience on a journey in Germany. This is a diverse thriller that is experimental when it comes to fear and how awry a situation can go. With Hunter Schafer as the lead, her performance is as vocal as her character from HBO’s Euphoria. In Cuckoo, she plays a teenager with attitude who wants answers so she can put puzzle pieces together. This may be her most memorable project yet.

Schafer’s character, Gretchen, moves from the United States to Europe to live with her father, Luis (played by Marton Csokas). Luis lives in a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Luis’s boss, Mr. Konig (played by Dan Stevens), is odd and makes observations about Gretchen’s half-sister Alma (played by Mila Lieu), who is mute. The dynamics are obscure in Gretchen’s new home life are. In this new element, her mind is consumed with sound effects and shocking visions, and there are more concerns that are life-threatening. Gretchen is known to be rebellious; no one listens to her. 

Cuckoo is a mind-boggling ride that generates terror. The film’s writing has effective shock value. The movie is about a rebellious teen fighting for her life in a bizarre setting with no straight answers. Cuckoo is spellbinding and creatively classy. Three out of four stars.