Cuckoo Blu Ray Review (Decal Releasing)

Cuckoo is a 2024 horror film written and directed by Tilman Singer (Luz, El Fin Del Mundo, and The Events at Mr. Yamamoto’s Alpine Residence). It was produced by Tom Quinn (Infinity Pool, Only God Forgives, Crimes of the Future, Longlegs, It Lives Inside, and The ABCs of Death) and 13 others. The budget was $7,000,000 and it grossed $6,680,377 worldwide at the box office. Outsider Gretchen (played by: Hunter Schafer from Euphoria, Kinds of Kindness, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) is forced to leave America to move to the German Alps with her father Luis (played by: Marton Csokas from xXx, The Equalizer, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Aeon Flux, The Bourne Supremacy, The Lord of the Rings franchise, and Sin City: A Dame to Kill) and his new family which includes Beth (played by: Jessica Henwick from Love and Monsters, Glass Onion, Iron Fist, The Matrix Resurrections, Game of Thrones, and Underwater). When she arrives to her new mysterious home, she is greeted by Mr. König (played by: Dan Stevens from Abigail, The Guest, Legion, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, A Walk Among the Tombstones, and The Rental) who seems a little too interested in her mute half-sister Alma (played by: Mila Lieu from Bad Things and Dodger) for some unknown reason. She has to try give her new life a shot in this getaway paradise. As she digs a little deeper, things keep getting weirder with this unfamiliar environment. Something doesn’t seem right with her family and she’s haunted by a bizarre presence. Is it real? or Is it just all in her head???? Cuckoo is definitely one of the weirdest films that I’ve covered in awhile but I personally like that. It reminds me of something from David Cronenberg, it just has that really strange vibe to it that stays with you. The script really messes with your mind and it makes you question what’s actually going on in Cuckoo. It has a demented Groundhog Day approach with some repeat moments. Hunter Schafer as Gretchen is fantastic as the the girl that’s forced make a major change in her life after following her father to a different country. She feels left out with his brand new family. She is seeing some really bizarre things when she gets there including a crazed woman that keeps staking her. Marton Csokas as Luis is a dad just trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter after having some past issues. He has a whole new life with his wife and other kid but he wants to include Gretchen on this journey. Dan Stevens as Mr. König steals the show as the ambitious scientist. He has a plan for the future and he is experimenting with some unusual stuff. Stevens has been on fire lately with his recent roles especially when it comes to horror. He just makes any production better with his presence. He’s a true chameleon as a performer, he proves that can do anything once again. The rest of the supporting cast includes Jessica Henwick, Mila Lieu, Jan Bluthardt (Luz), Greta Fernández (30 Coins), Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), and Kalin Morrow (2 Broke Girls). Cuckoo is not for everyone, it steps out of the familiar box when it comes to cinema and it doesn’t shy away from it’s awkward creepy atmosphere. I’ve always enjoyed features that make you think about it long after it’s finished. Cuckoo takes it’s time to establish what’s it’s really about after a variety of nightmare like scenarios but it’s worth the wait. Personally, I think it’s extremely entertaining and a wild ride. The replay value is strong because it’s one of those films that you want to revisit to explore it a little more. There’s always small things that you miss the first time or two, RECOMMENDED!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation and special features from Decal Releasing! This 1080p (2.39:1) transfer looks amazing on blu ray. It has some morbid visuals from DP Paul Faltz (Luz), creative production design, and some wild locations that really shine here. It’s one of the most impressive horror films of the year when it comes to it’s unique style. It has a few different audio options which includes English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on the disc. The audio is excellent for Cuckoo, it has high quality sound design that really adds to it’s vibe. All of the dialogue is crystal clear, the bizarre situations are elevated, and the music has a huge boost to it. It has English SDH and Spanish subtitles. It has the little over 5 minute “Making of Cuckoo”. It has interviews with the cast and crew. They chat about the project and it being a little different. They talk about director Tilman Singer and what he brought to the the production. They go over the cast and their characters. They show their appreciation for working together on this. They break down various aspects of all the departments and crew that added to Cuckoo. It has the little over 7 minute “Cuckoo Video Diaries”. Hunter Schafer chats about all the different genres this movie touches on. She talks about her overall experiences and the first time being the lead in something. It has all kinds of behind the scenes material here. It has a little over 23 minutes of “On-Set Interviews” with Hunter Schafer, Frauke Firl, and Dario Mendez Acosta. The lead actress and the crew answer various questions about Cuckoo and what they actually thought about it. It has some interesting information about their collaborations, their work, and fascinating stories on how they got involved. It has additional behind the scenes footage included in this. It has 6 different “Deleted Scenes” that’s a little over 9 minutes. These are pretty cool additions to the movie but I can see why these didn’t make the final cut. It has a “Teaser” and a “Trailer” for Cuckoo. It has a few “Trailers” for a few other Neon related features. It’s available everywhere right now, CHECK IT OUT!!!!