As a seasoned gamer of the movie industry, I’ve seen my fair share of production rollercoasters, but none quite like the saga of “Cuckoo.” This film, much like a resilient character in a survival horror game, has faced insurmountable odds – from pandemic delays to cast changes, and even geopolitical crises. But, like the indomitable spirit of its protagonist, it refused to be defeated.
The unconventional horror film “Cuckoo” by Neon faced quite a few intricate adjustments in its journey to cinemas.
Due to similar circumstances faced by numerous projects, the coronavirus pandemic caused a delay in the initial 2020 start of the project. Further delays in Hunter Schafer’s HBO series Euphoria pushed the start of Cuckoo even further back. These delays led some cast members to take on other commitments, leaving the production team with no choice but to find new actors to replace them, as Schafer’s original castmates were no longer available.
Tilman Singer’s film project, as writer-director, was about to start pre-production in West Germany when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. This led to the German government using the intended filming locations for housing Ukrainian refugees, a response to the humanitarian crisis that was necessary. The Cuckoo team acknowledged this. However, this left the production needing alternative locations to shoot.
Ken Kao, producer and co-founder of Waypoint, observes that many attempts were made during challenging times by numerous individuals for the movie to finally reach its beginning stage.
Finding a new actor to replace former star John Malkovich was a particularly challenging task.
Producer Josh Rosenbaum, a partner at Waypoint, jokes about the reconnaissance they conducted to find Herr König’s replacement. In this new portrayal, Herr König was written as a 60-something German man. However, they ultimately opted for a different choice, casting the younger Dan Stevens in the role instead.
Additionally, they uncovered fresh settings for the movie, where the story revolves around Schafer’s character, Gretchen, who is grieving over her mother’s passing and subsequently relocates to a Bavarian Alps resort managed by Herr König, portrayed by Stevens. Accompanied by her father (Marton Csokas), his new spouse (Jessica Henwick), and half-sister (Mila Lieu), Gretchen becomes increasingly concerned about her sister’s peculiar behavior. Simultaneously, a shadowy figure in a trench coat appears to be tailing Gretchen, eventually leading her to uncover a sinister scheme.
As a gamer, I couldn’t reveal our budget, but the attractive incentives for producing in Germany made this project a smart financial move. Despite not hitting the same heights as our other Neon horror title “Longlegs” which was released on Aug. 9, we’re thrilled with the $6.7 million we earned from “Cuckoo”. It’s a win we’re proud of!
According to Kao, giving Neon a chance on this project was commendable, especially since many others were shifting towards streaming at that moment. Notably, Waypoint’s production and funding agreement with Neon completely funded the series Cuckoo. (Paraphrased)
A notable achievement for the team was when their movie was screened at Quentin Tarantino’s Vista Theater in Los Feliz, and they were able to project a 35mm print (since the movie was filmed using this format).
Following its digital premiere, Waypoint is currently working on Singer’s next cinematic venture. This German director made a splash with his thesis film “Luz“, a 70-minute supernatural horror production. While one might expect another horror project after “Luz” and “Cuckoo“, the genre of his third work remains undisclosed. However, it’s rumored that this upcoming project will represent a significant leap forward for the director.
According to Rosenbaum, he often makes films that are unlike anything else he’s done before, similar to the style of traditional filmmakers known for their diverse work.
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2024-10-01 22:25