The reviews for the new horror-thriller film Cuckoo are in, with critics praising Hunter Schafer’s “absolutely sensational” lead performance.
Schafer plays Gretchen, who moves to the German Alps to live with her father, but becomes disturbed when her father’s boss embroils the family in a sinister plot.
The film, which also stars Dan Stevens, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and will be in cinemas from Friday (August 9).
With reviews now out, the film sits at a strong 79 per cent on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising director Tilman Singer’s “inventive flair”, and singling out Schafer for particular praise.
In their review, Associated Press wrote: “It is undeniably fascinating, original and even occasionally fun, in a very twisted and deranged way in which laughter is your involuntary response to something horrifying. In her captivating lead performance, Schafer really goes through it, both physically and emotionally.”
Slashfilm went even further in their praise of the actor: “Schafer’s strong-willed, straight-shooting, absolutely sensational performance is the anchor in this chaotic storm…Schafer commands every scene.”
In a three-star review, The Guardian wrote: “This combination of multiplex ambition and arthouse vaguery makes it an odd, uneven little film that scrapes through thanks to an excess of personality, both from Singer’s direction and his cast. There’s a committed final girl performance from Schafer, proving to be a far more winning lead than her Euphoria co-stars this past year, and Stevens going full-throttle weird.
Screen Daily added: “Whether the picture will garner the word-of-mouth support required for success outside of festival play is another matter. What’s not up for debate is the quality of the lead performance. Schafer delivers a stellar turn, and her combination of androgynous frailty and tough-girl attitude works terrifically well. She carries the film, and will likely be its key selling point.
Back in April, Schafer said she no longer wants to play transgender roles. After breaking through with her performance as transgender high schooler Jules Vaughn in hit HBO series Euphoria, but said she now wants to refocus her career.
“I worked so hard to get to where I am, past these really hard points in my transition, and now I just want to be a girl and finally move on,” she said.
“I’ve gotten offered tonnes of trans roles, and I just don’t want to do it. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I know for a fact that I’m one of the most famous trans people in media right now, and I do feel a sense of responsibility, and maybe a little bit of guilt, for not being more of a spokesperson.”
However, she added that she feels continuing to play transgender roles may not be the most effective way to help the community.
“But ultimately, I really do believe that not making it the centrepiece to what I’m doing will allow me to get further. And I think getting further and doing awesome shit, in the interest of ‘the movement,’ will be way more helpful than talking about it all the time.”
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