Cuckoo ending explained: Interesting ideas that don’t amount to much

As a seasoned gamer and horror movie enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that 2024 has been an exhilarating year for us thrill-seekers. The latest addition to the roster is none other than “Cuckoo,” a film that had me both intrigued and bewildered in equal measure.

In 2024, we’ve been treated to a string of daring horror flicks that have us eagerly heading to the cinema, and “Cuckoo” is no exception. This movie, penned and helmed by Tilman Singer, is a collaborative effort between Germany and America, premiering in select theaters on August 9. The intricate plot revolves around an American teenager named Gretchen, portrayed by Hunter Schafer, who, following her mother’s demise, is compelled to move in with her father and his new family residing in Germany.

Gretchen joins her family – father Luis, mother Beth, and sister Alma – who were already set to relocate to the German Alps to establish a new hotel in partnership with businessman Herr König. However, Gretchen’s presence seems to create issues for König, as he has his own designs for the resort. Shortly after their arrival, peculiar incidents start happening, including Gretchen being followed by an ominous figure wearing a hood. This mysterious woman, the unusual events at the resort, and König’s intentions are gradually uncovered throughout the story of Cuckoo.

WARNING: Major spoilers for Cuckoo are below.

To elaborate, this unidentified woman, often seen in the forest, appears to shadow Gretchen under cover of darkness, causing her immense fear. One particular evening, cycling back from work, she spots this enigmatic figure pursuing her vigorously. Panicking, she rushes to the hospital. However, upon arrival, she accidentally collides with a glass door in her haste to escape the woman, receiving a minor head wound. Unfortunately, when Gretchen shares her account of being chased, neither the authorities nor the hospital staff believe her, dismissing it as a prank.

One evening, Gretchen, along with a resort guest named Ed, finds herself pursued once more. After a rapid connection, they decide to escape together. Gretchen, having emptied the hotel’s cash register, is about to leave their shared past behind as she drives off. However, an unsettling vibrating sound emerges and they find themselves trapped in a loop. Suddenly, a hooded figure steps into the street, causing Ed to swerve and crash the car. These events leave Gretchen feeling extremely anxious and terrified. Coincidentally, her half-sister Alma starts experiencing seizures. Regrettably, their parents and stepmother attribute these health issues to the stress allegedly caused by Gretchen’s actions.

The hooded woman explained

Gretchen encounters Detective Henry, who shares with her that he’s probing the mystery of a woman wearing a hood. This information brings comfort to Gretchen. As they join forces, König eventually becomes suspicious. Under the pretense of taking her to the train station to depart, König leads Gretchen to his residence instead, where she ultimately discovers the true identity of the hooded lady. The hooded woman turns out to be a peculiar creature resembling both a woman and a bird. This species exhibits a behavior similar to cuckoo birds, where it relies on other creatures to nurture its offspring through brood parasitism. In essence, König is breeding humans to sustain this bird-like species, with other people caring for the babies until they reach maturity.

It appears that Alma is among the offspring produced by König’s lineage. Earlier in the movie, it was hinted that Luis and Beth conceived Alma at a resort eight years ago, and now we understand the circumstances better. König has been utilizing this species for artificial insemination of women visiting the resort, and he attempts to do so with Gretchen as well, but luckily, Henry intervenes and rescues her. Now, let’s talk about Henry…

Henry’s personal investment

In the story of ‘Cuckoo’, it’s revealed that Henry, contrary to belief, was once a police officer, no longer employed. Gretchen uncovers his personal stake in this case: his wife was a victim of König’s deceit at the resort, leading to her tragic death. This loss has fueled Henry’s determination to expose the truth about the resort and bring down König. Both Gretchen and Henry rely on each other to resolve this matter. However, while Gretchen aims to rescue Alma, Henry is set on eliminating anyone linked to the scheme, even the ‘woman-birds’. This leaves Gretchen facing a double threat from both Henry and König, as she struggles to save herself and Alma.

Near the closing moments of the movie, Gretchen ultimately slays the cloaked woman. However, if she aims to escape, she encounters not only König and Henry but also them. Alma, using her abilities akin to a woman-bird, lets out a piercing shriek that generates a distinct vibrational feeling, which momentarily disorients König and Henry. Although the scene isn’t shown, the sound of two gunshots suggests that Alma’s scream was enough for the two men to turn against each other and meet their demise.

Gretchen and Alma get away

In the final scenes of “Cuckoo”, Gretchen and Alma manage their escape, leaving König and Henry behind. As luck would have it, they spot Ed in the parking lot, preparing to depart from the resort, and they hop into her car for a ride. It appears they make it to safety, but the movie concludes without revealing their further fate. The whereabouts of Beth and Luis remain unknown, though it’s safe to say Gretchen has no intention of reconnecting with them. Given that Alma belongs to a different species, one can only imagine that their journey won’t be an easy one from here on out. What will become of Gretchen and Alma? Their future seems uncertain at best.

Despite the majority of our queries being resolved within the story of “Cuckoo”, there remains a significant amount of ambiguity concerning the nature of König’s creation at his resort. This ambiguity invites multiple interpretations and suggests that further narratives could unfold within this fictional world.

Yeah, there totally could be a sequel, but we don’t need one

Reflecting on it, there seems to be ample material for a follow-up to “Cuckoo” movie, but I believe it’s advisable to draw the line here. While the film presents intriguing concepts, they unfortunately don’t coalesce into something compelling or fulfilling in the climax. The movie boasts some impressive scenes, stellar acting, and a fantastic soundtrack, but that’s about as positive as I can be regarding it. Regrettably, the more the story unfolds, the less engaging it becomes, which is unfortunate. The final act disintegrates completely, and there’s little that can salvage the ending when the narrative has become so complex and dull simultaneously.

A shorter format like a short film or an episode within an anthology series might have been more fitting for the story of “Cuckoo,” making a sequel less necessary due to its length and scope.

Cuckoo is now playing in select theaters.

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2024-08-09 18:25