Cert - 15, Run-time - 1 hour 43 minutes, Director - Tilman Singer

After encountering strange figures and screeches in the night, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) discovers a sinister side to the quiet alpine resort her parents (Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick) have been invited to.

The German alpine resort in which Cuckoo takes place feels trapped in time. The 60s style decor and architecture is matched by the colour palette emphasised by the cinematography which provides an almost cold, watered-down feel to the visual environment. Paired with the fact that the resort is almost void of guests, not to mention the minimal staff, it feels as if there could be more nuclear radiation than people.

Perhaps an explanation to the strange goings on witnessed by Hunter Schafer's Gretchen. In the wake of her mother's death she's invited at the last minute to stay with her family at the resort. Father Luis (Marton Csokas), distant step-mother Beth (Jessica Henwick) and mute step-sister Alma (Mila Lieu) are all greeted warmly by owner Herr Konig (Dan Stevens). An instantly skin-crawling figure, before opening his mouth there's a thick layer of mistrust surrounding Stevens' character, felt also by Gretchen. 

Everything isn't as it seems might not apply to Cuckoo as the creepiness is already clear as Stevens' creepiness instantly puts you on edge, wondering what he's hiding or planning. Is he behind the strange screeches at night? Seemingly shaking the surroundings and reversing time by a few seconds. Or is it the covered figure who chases Gretchen one evening - despite being told to stay at the reception area where she's been offered work for the summer - before she takes refuge in the fully-functioning hospital which is part of the resort? 

There's never a question as to whether Gretchen is mad, it's clear that something is going on. The fear factor comes through in the mystery as she tries to find out the secrets of the resort - surely the family can't have been invited to help design a new holiday destination for Konig. Jump scares aren't the priority - although there is a very effective one during the 103-minute run-time - instead tension and creepiness are built up as part of the central character's investigation.

An investigation which certainly provides answers but perhaps not enough when it comes to the third act. As the threat shifts to a more upfront, physical one the climactic events feel hampered by a lack of context. While we're provided with some answers they're not quite enough to form an overall satisfying conclusion, or a general basis for what has come beforehand.

It creates an unevenness to the closing stages, despite some enjoyable moments as the end point gets closer. Schafer's leading turn carries things through as you buy into her character's determination amongst her increasingly bruised and bandaged state. She helps carry things through the third act, alongside Steven's fear-inducing presence. There's an overall solid horror within Cuckoo, it would just be more so from start to finish if it provided a few more contextual answers in its latter stages.

Three stars - Jamie Skinner