NEON and director Tilman Singer (Luz) are gearing up to unleash a chilling new horror film, Cuckoo, which will arrive in theaters this May. While details have been scarce, a recent Variety interview with Singer and star Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”) has shed some light on the film’s bizarre and unsettling premise.
“It’s really a freaky thing that that’s just in nature, and birds are just out here being complete dicks to other birds and giving them their own babies to raise,” Schafer told Variety. “Are you kidding? That’s psycho!” Schafer states.
A Vacation Gone Wrong:
In the film, 17-year-old Gretchen reluctantly joins her father and his new family at a seemingly idyllic resort in the German Alps. But tranquility quickly unravels as she encounters Mr. König, her father’s boss, with an unsettling interest in her mute half-sister Alma. Strange noises and disturbing visions plague Gretchen, hinting at a dark secret lurking beneath the resort’s pristine facade.
Variety went on to expand on the plot: “Also scary is the film, which sees Schafer face off against a mysterious bird-like monster with a scream-like call who seeks to impregnate women with her evil spawn. The story, written by Singer, is based on the lore of the cuckoo bird, some of which are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other species.”
More Than Just Monsters:
Prepare for a twisted take on the cuckoo bird’s infamous parasitic behavior. Schafer teases a monstrous entity with a bird-like form and a horrifying scream. This chilling creature, directly inspired by cuckoo bird lore, adds a unique layer of terror to the narrative.
While the monstrous elements pique curiosity, Schafer emphasizes the film’s exploration of psychological horror. She describes Gretchen’s isolation and disorientation within her new environment, further amplifying the fear as she unravels the terrifying conspiracies.
Festival Buzz:
The film recently premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and will make its international premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Watch for further coverage and insights as the film gears up for its theatrical release on May 3, 2024.
Cuckoo promises to be a disturbing and thought-provoking horror experience, sure to leave audiences terrified and intrigued. Get ready to witness the chilling consequences of nature’s dark side.
