Looking for a new horror film to watch this Halloween season? Cuckoo, a bonkers mountain horror-thriller starring Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), is now available to watch at home after a successful release this summer.
It’s got its fair share of creepy characters, eerie atmosphere, dramatic tension, and cinematic mountain lodge vibes a la The Shining. Far from a jump scare-filled traditional horror movie, Cuckoo is more dependent on building unnerving, creeping dread. Prepare for an uncomfortably tense, truly bizarre movie night.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Cuckoo at home.
What is Cuckoo about?
Written and directed by Tilman Singer, the film follows 17-year-old American Gretchen (Schafer) who is uprooted to a resort in Bavaria with her father Luis (Márton Csókás), stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and 8-year-old stepsister, Alma (Mila Lieu).
Resort owner Mr. König (Dan Stevens) finds Gretchen a job working reception at a nearby lodge, where one day she’s chased back to her new home on her bike by a mysterious hooded figure with glowing eyes. When nobody believes she was attacked, she’s forced to investigate largely on her own. What she uncovers is quite bonkers and might leave you scratching your head.
Check out the full trailer below:
Is Cuckoo worth watching?
Cuckoo reviews are a mixed bag, but lean mostly positive, with a 77 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 percent audience rating. Mashable’s own reviewer Siddhant Adlakha calls it “incredibly strange and deviously fun.”
“Whatever the film’s more overt horrors, whether its chilling atmosphere or its attempts at amusing moral and visceral obscenities, they’re all bound by Schafer’s increasing physical and emotional despondency,” wrote Adlakha in his review. “She doesn’t just save the movie. She is the movie, making it all the more remarkable to watch.”
As Schafer’s first lead role in a film, she knocks it out of the park. And for her performance alone, it’s worth a watch. Plus, of course, there’s Dan Stevens.
How to watch Cuckoo at home
Credit: NEON
If you skipped the big screen, you’re in luck. You can watch Cuckoo at home as of Sept.17. The mountain horror-thriller is now officially available to rent or buy on digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV for those who’d rather watch the film from their couch. If you’d rather wait and stream the film, keep reading for more information.
Note: If you choose to rent the film, you’ll have 30 days to start watching and just 48 hours once you begin.
Here are some of the platforms where you can rent or purchase the film online:
When is Cuckoo streaming?
There’s no official streaming date yet for Cuckoo, but since the indie film distributor Neon has a deal with Hulu, we expect the film to make its streaming debut on the service later this year. You can set yourself up for success by signing up for the streamer ahead of time. Hulu is surprisingly one of the most generous streamers for newbies, as it offers a free 30-day trial. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but we’ve rounded up a few different ways you can save on your subscription below.
Mashable Deals
The best Hulu streaming deals to watch later
Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription
Rather than paying $9.99 per month for Hulu, which adds up to $119.88 in a year, you can opt for an annual subscription and save 16%. An annual subscription with ads costs just $99.99 up front, which drops the monthly fee down to just $8.33 per month. Sure, you’ll have to pay more up front, but you’ll end up keeping more in your pocket in the long run.
Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 37% off
If you’re already a Disney+ subscriber or you want to get more bang for your buck, you can sign up for the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both Disney+ and Hulu for $10.99 per month. That’s just $1 more than paying for Hulu alone, or a savings of 45%. Even better, if you’re a sports fan, you can throw ESPN+ into the mix for only $16.99 per month total. That’s 47% in savings on all three services.
Best for students: Hulu Student
Students looking to stream Cuckoo and other Neon hits can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month. That’s a savings of 80% compared to the full cost of Hulu with ads. You’ll just have to verify your college email address using SheerID to score the deal.
Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for one year for Go5G Next customers
One of the best ways to get free streaming services, including Hulu, is to switch your mobile plan to T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan get Hulu with ads included in their plan for no extra cost, plus Netflix and Apple TV+. If you’re already on a Go5G Next plan, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose “redeem now” to claim your offer. You’ll have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.
Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you’ll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.
