Film Reviews by NW

Well... erm... that was original, to say the least! It's a horror film, so from the off you can sort of guess what it's about from the title (cuckoo in the nest), and yes, that IS what it is about - but not in the way you expect.

Hunter Schafer plays Gretchen, a teen who accompanies her dad, his new wife and her sister to a resort town in the Bavarian Alps, presided over by Dr Konig (Dan Stevens - a genre stalwart from such fllms as The Guest, Colossal and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire). It's immediately obvious that 'Something's Off' and the mystery is well developed with strange noises from the woods, women unexpectedly throwing up, the sister (who is mute) having seizures and Gretchen being chased on her bike by a strange hooded woman.

This part of the movie is excellent and I was enthralled - but when it's all explained it all falls to pieces with so many unanswered questions. Weirdly, both too much and not enough is explained - we find out what's behind the strange happenings but not how the current situation at the resort came to be. How did Dr Konig and his cronies come to - well, spoilers! It all descends into action movie cliches with guns everywhere, disappointing. The story is good enough, the concept so original, that a better movie could have been made of it, a more sinister Wicker Man style affair. As it is the creepiness of the first hour is completely blown away - quite literally, with big guns.

And Gretchen is such a dislikeable character, that I could not engage with her plight at all. She's sulky, self-absorbed and selfish, and her hairstyle rather unfortunately reminded me of Harry Enfield's Kevin the Teenager character.

A shame - because at times this is wonderfully eerie and the concept behind it is unique and bonkers - but it didn't quite work for me.

Ignore that other review. In no way is this film 'misandrist' you might as well say the same of Psycho or Taxi Driver.

Instead this a study of two very damaged people who descend into complete insanity.

Rebecca Hall plays the survivor of Tim Roth's character's abuse and what he did to her, explained in a seven-minute monologue to camera, is beyond horrendous.

Hall's descent into madness is painful, horrifying and sad to watch. Yes she is selfish and unpleasant. Because of what happened to her.

No spoilers, but there's something that gives Roth's character a hold over her and this develops into a somewhat predictable, extremely gory, and morbidly horrifying conclusion that many have taken literally, but is clearly the end result of Hall's insanity.

One of the most genuinely unsettling horror films I have ever seen and I have seen a lot!

This is an excellent and absorbing thriller, beautifully shot, well played and engrossing.

"Relentless edge-of-your-seat suspense, jaw-dropping, high-octane action" is absolutely what it is not!

I don't know how anyone seeing this film could come up with that description. There is action, and it is very well done, and there is suspense, also well done. But don't expect Mad Max or something.

That said I would recommend this - just ignore that review!