CUCKOO. From the very first frames, this struck me as some kind of living relic that will (or should) reward some horror nerd years from now who discovers it without prior knowledge or judgment. That’s admittedly a simplistic way of describing a film that offers its own rewards in real time, however contradictory they may be. But I actually mean that as high praise, as I’ve recently become addicted to cinematic crate-digging and the joy of unearthing previously unknown surprises.
Maybe I mean that cuckoowritten and directed by Tilman Singer, feels like a work displaced in time. A beautifully realized sci-horror about grief, family and loneliness, shot through with mostly delicious dread and deferred relief, the film seems out of step with recent restrictions on wide release and mass acceptance. The fact that it seems to have found both strikes me as a potential sign of good things to come, but optimism has never been my strong suit.
cuckoo is really strange, even by my battered standards. While it doesn’t completely succeed in everything it sets out to do, its style and persuasiveness recall a presumably bygone era of experimentation and investment in it. And for that, I can only celebrate it.
After suffering unresolved trauma, 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) reluctantly joins her father (Marton Csokas), stepmother (Jessica Henwick), and 8-year-old stepsister (Mila Lieu) as they relocate to a remote German mountain cabin. The owner, Herr König (a delightfully bizarre Dan Stevens), has hired the pair, with whom he obviously has some history, to design a new addition to the resort. As a “favor,” he also offers Gretchen a job at the front desk, which she quickly accepts, if only to free herself from the awkwardness of her not-quite-familiar surroundings. Almost immediately, she begins to understand that something is amiss in and around Schloss König, including, but not limited to, semi-conscious guests vomiting in the lobby and a possibly insane woman in a raincoat skulking around the perimeter.
As I mentioned above, the design and execution of cuckoo as a work of art are truly impressive. Shot with painterly attention to detail and reverence for its striking surroundings, the film is as arresting to watch from a purely aesthetic perspective as anything I’ve seen this year. But Singer’s stylistic ambitions – and successes – quickly overshadow the narrative’s ability to live up to them. Schaefer does a great job of holding the piece’s narrative center, and her shared scenes with Stevens, who is about to play his way into an entirely different film, provide a psychological stew rich with the umami of pathos, hurt, and ill will.
On first viewing, there’s much more to like than to complain about. But it still suggests a more complete version of itself, one with a more refined narrative to match its almost unassailable technical execution.
And so I hope that in a few decades some new generation of film fans will be able to rescue the film from oblivion and celebrate its strangeness; perhaps the future will be kinder than the present. R. 102M.
THE INITIATORS. Speaking of finds from cinema’s past, there have been a handful of heist movies in recent years – with varying degrees of success – and none of them have made it to theaters; maybe you shouldn’t check that out. The point is that what was once an unmissable opportunity for suspense and exercises in style has been relegated, at least for now, to streaming services of varying reputations. In this case, Apple (which no one seems to be watching) has quietly released a film with a clever script, some movie stars, a killer supporting cast, and a director who (mostly) knows how to make an action movie. I wonder if anyone else cares at all except me.
Written by Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean, directed by Doug Liman (this year’s failed film Rest houseThe film (among other more successful projects) stars Affleck, Matt Damon, Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames, Paul Walter Hauser, Toby Jones and Ron Perlman. The instigators puts two down-on-their-luck Boston criminals at the center of an election robbery that turns into a chase that recalls the genre’s heyday with a fresh perspective on the characters and a decidedly modern style. It’s also a regular Boston movie.
Although serious themes are alluded to here (mental health, alcoholism, broken families, political corruption), the play’s script balances humor, sadness and despair with a charming lightness, creating a reluctant buddy action comedy that succeeds because it never tries to be something it isn’t or can’t be. R. 101M. APPLE TV+.
John J. Bennett (he/him) is a movie buff who loves a good chase scene.
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ALIEN: ROMULUS. Do you want Xenomorphs with chests, faces, and acid? Because by colonizing space we get Xenomorphs with chests, faces, and acid. R. 119M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK, MINOR.
BORDERLANDS. Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis in a video game-inspired sci-fi action comedy. With Arianna Greenblatt and Kevin. PG13. 102 M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK.
CORALINE. The scary children’s classic with the button eyes. P. 100 M. BROADWAY (3D), MILL CREEK.
Despicable Me 4. Gru (Steve Carell) and his family return to fight evil with Gru Jr. in tow. PG. 94M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK.
DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE. Our old friends reluctantly team up to defeat a common enemy, starring Ryan Reynold and Hugh Jackman. R. 132M. BROADWAY (3D), MILL CREEK (3D), MINOR.
FROM INSIDE OUT 2. All the feels are back in this animated sequel, now with Anxiety! SG 96 M. BROADWAY.
IT ENDS WITH US. A young woman (Blake Lively) with a traumatic family history notices warning signs in her new relationship. PG13. 130 M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK.
LONG LEGS. Maika Monroe plays an inexperienced FBI agent on the trail of a cruel serial killer. With Nicolas Cage. R. 101M. MINOR.
RYAN’S WORLD. A boy chases his twin sisters when they are drawn into a comic book. P. 83 M., BROADWAY.
THELMA. A 93-year-old grandmother and her boyfriend are scammed and hop on a scooter to catch the scammer. PG13. 97 mins. For minors.
CATCH. Thriller by M. Night Shyamalan about a father (Josh Hartnett) and his daughter at a pop concert that serves as an undercover operation for a serial killer. PG13. 105 M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK.
TWISTER. Popcorn and rival storm chasers in the sequel to the 1990s blockbuster. PG13. 122 M. BROADWAY, MILL CREEK.
For showtimes, call: Broadway Cinema (707) 443-3456; Mill Creek Cinema 839-3456; Minor Theatre (707) 822-3456.
