Hunter Schafer takes a plunge into the depths of madness in the new trailer for *Cuckoo*, an upcoming horror film from writer-director Tilman Singer. Schafer stars as Gretchen, a 17-year-old American who leaves her home to live with her father in a resort nestled in the scenic German Alps. As Gretchen settles into her new life, she takes on a job working for her father’s boss, the enigmatic Mr. Herr König, played by Dan Stevens. However, the trailer takes a sinister turn as Schafer’s character spirals into a state of unsettling madness, while Stevens delivers a chillingly deranged performance. The unsettling nature of the trailer is emphasized by König’s chilling words directed at Gretchen: “If I were you, I wouldn’t want to get hurt even more.”
Joining Schafer and Stevens in the *Cuckoo* cast are Jessica Henwick, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Greta Fernández, and Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey. *Cuckoo* is the brainchild of Tilman Singer, a German filmmaker known for his 2018 horror film *Luz*. The film is produced by Markus Halberschmidt, Josh Rosenbaum, Maria Tsigka, Ken Kao, and Thor Bradwell. *Cuckoo* is distributed by Neon, an independent film and distribution company that has been experiencing a remarkably successful year. Earlier in 2024, Neon’s *Longlegs* surpassed expectations, becoming the company’s highest-grossing opening weekend at the domestic box office, earning a staggering $22.6 million. The serial killer thriller, starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe, has garnered over $47 million worldwide against a budget of around $10 million.
Neon continued its winning streak at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with *Anora*, which secured the coveted Palme d’Or award. This marks Neon’s fifth consecutive Palme d’Or win, adding to their previous victories with *Parasite* (2019), *Titane* (2021), *Triangle of Sadness* (2022), and *Anatomy of a Fall* (2023). *Anora* is set to hit theaters in October. *Cuckoo* premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February, followed by screenings at the 2024 South by Southwest in March. *Cuckoo* is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 9, 2024.
