The Chilling Meaning Behind the Horror Movie Cuckoo’s Simple Title (2024)

Opening theatrically on August 9, 2024, Cuckoo is an acclaimed American thriller with shades of Cronenbergian body horror. The story concerns Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), a 17-year-old American who begrudgingly travels to the German Alps to live with her estranged father at a paradise resort. At the resort, Gretchen's mute sibling Alma (Mila Lieu) becomes increasingly targeted by their father's boss, Mr. Konig (Dan Stevens).

Using a clever pun, the title Cuckoo connotes a certain madness that defies the horrific action that unfolds and an avian parasite that reinforces the movie's disturbing theme. The latter meaning is explained at the end by Mr. Konig, a riveting yet risible Bond-like villain who overexposes his dastardly plot and forces viewers to rethink the plot. Although the second half does not live up to the first half, the performances by Schaffer and Stevens make Cuckoo an ideal watch for horror enthusiasts. However, the explanation of the title may shock some fans to the core.

Cuckoo

Seventeen-year-old Gretchen reluctantly leaves America to live with her father at a resort in the German Alps. Plagued by strange noises and bloody visions, she soon discovers a shocking secret that concerns her own family.

Release Date

August 9, 2024

Director

Tilman Singer

Cast

Hunter Schafer , Jessica Henwick , Dan Stevens , Marton Csokas , Astrid Bergès-Frisbey

See Also

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Runtime

1hr 42min

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

Tilman Singer

What Is Cuckoo About?

Cuckoo is an American body horror thriller written and directed by sophom*ore filmmaker Tilman Singer. Hunter Schafer stars as Gretchen Vanderkurt, a 17-year-old American forced to leave her stateside home to live with her father Luis (Marton Csokas) in the German Alps. When she arrives at the lavish vacation resort, Gretchen is increasingly tormented by bizarre sounds and strange visions. Gretchen reunites with her father and half-sister Alma (Lieu), who plays a key role in the title's duplicitous double meaning.

Gretchen soon meets Herr Konig (Stevens), the frightening and fanciful boss of Gretchen and Almas's father. As Gretchen adjusts to her surroundings, it becomes clear that Konig has a strange obsession with Alma. Tilman Singer does an excellent job drawing intrigue and mounting a menacing sense of dread during the first 45 minutes. However, when the movie becomes saddled with a Bond-style exposition that over-explains the villain's devious plot, the scary body horror thriller becomes ridiculous fast. However, as the film advances, the dual meaning of its creepy title comes into sharp focus.

What Does the Cuckoo Title Mean?

At first blush, Cuckoo denotes the madcap craziness and sheer insanity Gretchen and Alma experience at the resort. The first half embodies the theme of said meaning, with Gretchen slowly losing grip on the reality she knows in America. Whether being chased by the demonic Hooded Woman (Kalin Morrow) who resembles her mother while on a bike ride at night or facing the sinister vibes of the flute-playing Mr. Konig, Gretchen soon learns something truly "Cuckoo" is afoot. Sadly, the second half veers off the rails to justify its punny title through its creepy yet misguided secondary meaning.

When Konig unveils his cards and explains his evil secrets, Cuckoo's meaning changes considerably. Upon targeting Alma, Konig explains to Gretchen that the sinister happenings at the resort parallel the rituals of Cuckoo birds. Cuckoo birds practice "brood parasitism," a phenomenon where Cuckoos drop their eggs into the nests of other species to be raised by a different family of birds who think the offspring belongs to them.

This explanation of brood parasitism is intended to mirror Alma's storyline as an adopted foster sibling who Konig wants to take care of. While admirable, the results are far less convincing than the film's frightening first half and, according to most critics, add little to the horror. But for Schafer and Stevens' committed and commanding turns, Cuckoo would lose most audiences with its shoehorned double-entendre.

How Cuckoo's Dual Meaning Enhances Its Themes

When asked about the brood parasitism theme in Cuckoo, director Tilman Singer told The Hollywood Reporter that the layered meaning was intentional, stating:

"Absolutely, yeah. I watched a BBC documentary around the time that we were mixing and finishing up Luz (his first feature student film). And this one image of host parents nurturing this cuckoo chick after their whole offspring had died just didn’t leave my brain. It just did something to me. So I came back to the idea at some point and I was like, 'OK, I’m supposed to project this onto humans.'"

Singer elaborated on the parasitic theme, speaking to Moviefone he said:

"I watched a documentary about the cuckoo bird and how they breed and that they put their eggs into the nests of other bird species. I couldn't let go for quite a while. Then I started thinking about the themes, very abstractly. But I knew there's something about family, about a circle, about a generational circle. It may be a violent one or one of love, but that's what slowly evolved while thinking about my characters."

In addition to the brood parasite theme in the acclaimed indie horror film, Cuckoo has plenty to say about human reproduction and reproductive health issues. When asked about the dual themes of sisterhood and reproduction, Singer added:

"I think both [readings] are true, and of course, everybody is extremely welcome to find whatever meaning it is to them. I don’t think we make any extremely concrete points. To me, it’s about sisterhood, family and the circles of family, whether they’re good or bad. It’s about repeating patterns and generational conflict and love."

Although Singer doesn't quite stick the second-half landing as Cuckoo explores its avian themes, the movie has been praised for its bonkers body horror action and unpredictable twists. The performances elevate the material above run-of-the-mill horror fare and prove that Schafer and Singer have plenty of talent to keep an eye on moving forward.

Cuckoo is now playing in select cinemas.