There’s a good chance you won’t see a stranger film this year than Cuckoo, the new horror-thriller starring Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer. Set in the German Alps, the film follows Gretchen (Schafer), who moves to the remote locale to live with her father and stepmom as they help to expand a resort owned by the enigmatic Mr. König (Dan Stevens). To say more would be to spoil the surprise, but suffice it to say that the high-pitched noises echoing throughout the resort’s lush landscape don’t bode well for Gretchen or her little sister.
Schafer dazzles in the film, her first lead film role since making her breakout as Jules Vaughn in HBO’s Euphoria back in 2019. After appearing in smaller roles in The Hunger Games prequel and Yorgos Lanthimos’ acclaimed Kinds of Kindness, the role of Gretchen required her to inhabit some especially intense emotions. In a Zoom interview with Them, the actress says that was only possible because of her comfort level on set.
“Knowing that you have people there who you love and trust, who will have your back if for some reason you’re not okay — that’s all I really need in order to feel okay when I’m doing scenes like that or going into head spaces like that,” she says. “There are scenes where I needed to just hold someone’s hand or know that someone’s there.”
Schafer also just finished production on the highly-anticipated A24 musical drama Mother Mary, which features pop music written by the Brat-tastic Charli XCX and Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff. Below, the Cuckoo star talks with Them about bringing a “fucked-up” fairy tale to life, becoming a final girl, and the challenge of having a brat summer.
When did you first read the script for Cuckoo and what attracted you to playing Gretchen?
I was looking for my first movie. I had been reading scripts and this was the first one that really struck a heart chord with me. I think I really fell in love with the world that [director] Tilman [Singer] built. I was deeply affected by his first movie, Luz, and knew that he could produce something that looks and sounds beautiful. I wanted to be a part of whatever world he was bringing to life. Even if it wasn’t Gretchen, I would have tried for any role in this, but I feel very lucky that I got to take Gretchen on.
You’re a part of a lot of movie projects right now, but this is your first horror movie. Are you a fan of the genre?
Absolutely. I went through some big horror phases as a teenager and I still love going to watch a horror movie now. It’s a really exciting space. My co-star Dan Stevens was saying this earlier: Especially for young filmmakers or newer filmmakers, it’s a good space to kind of play with more experimental forms of filmmaking or try ideas. You can get conceptual and detach from reality if you want to. It’s an exciting space to get creative in.
I was excited to see you as an actor join the legacy of final girls in horror movies. Was that exciting for you?
Totally. I don’t think I even thought of it that way when I first came on the project. I was looking at the story like some sort of fucked-up fairy tale, and now that we’re putting it out in the world, I understand it more thoroughly, in the context of the world, as a horror-thriller movie. I don’t think I was even thinking about it like that at the beginning. But I’m thrilled to be entering that space. And yeah, “final girl” as a phrase sounds cool as hell.
Watching Cuckoo, I had a similar feeling of it being like a fairy tale. Part of it is the German setting, which is the setting of so much good folklore. But what resonated with me was that it had so much to say about the horrors of patriarchy and controlling people’s bodies, especially women’s bodies. What do you think the film has to say to our current political moment?
It’s always interesting making a movie in a bubble years ago, and then putting it out into the world and seeing how the context of what’s happening changes how people experience the movie. Because it does. I can’t say when I was making the movie, I was thinking that deeply about it, because I was really just living in it from Gretchen’s perspective.
It’s certainly not a “message movie” that’s trying to say something about those things. But it’s really exciting when a movie, especially one that is as detached from reality as something like this, can draw parallels with the real world and create conversations around stuff that’s happening.
As you said, it’s certainly not only a message film. So many horror movies deal with the process of grief and Gretchen is going through so much loss.
That’s where I was coming at it from.
What was it like for you to tap into that grief that Gretchen was feeling as an actor?
She’s in a lot of turmoil for a lot of the movie. I definitely felt a sense of trepidation and fear, just knowing what occupying these hard head spaces can do to me as a person. Going home after doing that is always hard. That’s something I was scared of coming into it, because of what a dark place Gretchen is in.
But I think the most important thing — and I’ve found this to be true on every set I’ve been on — is feeling safe with the people that you’re working with. Knowing that you have people there who you love and trust, who will have your back if for some reason you’re not okay — that’s all I really need in order to feel okay when I’m doing scenes like that or going into head spaces like that. I’m so thankful that this set was like that for me.
It’s nice to be able to know that when you do come out of it, you’ll be coming into a room of people who support you.
It changes everything. There are scenes where I needed to just hold someone’s hand or know that someone’s there. So Tilman literally held my hand off camera [after those] scenes.
In the last year alone, you’ve done the Hunger Games prequel, and now Cuckoo and Kinds of Kindness. Do you see a through line for you as an actor in the kind of films or roles that you’re pursuing?
I can’t say there’s an equation that’s being used. I’m in a very lucky position where a lot of these opportunities come to me and I have to say yes or no, which is a crazy position to be in. But as far as what I say yes to, what I’m excited about, I think there are threads. Even with what’s coming in the future, everything that I take part in is exciting for my soul, makes me feel sparkly inside. That’s always the reason why I’m going to do a project. I don’t know what exactly the threads are, because it does kind of bounce all over the place, but they all make me happy.
Speaking of future projects, I know a lot of people are excited for your upcoming film Mother Mary, which stars Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, which just wrapped up production. I know there are original songs in the film. Are you going to be singing in the film?
No, no, no. I do sing in Cuckoo! But no, I think we are leaving that to Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff and that whole crew, who are very talented.
I remember when the news about this movie came out, everyone was so excited about it and a lot of people were excited about Charli’s involvement. Obviously, her profile has changed so much since the movie was announced. What was it like working with Charli during Brat summer?
Honestly, I don’t think Charli and I have ever met: We’re mutuals. I’ve heard a couple clips of what she’s worked on for Mother Mary but other than that, I don’t really know. It’s going to be a surprise for me, too! I’m really excited to see what this movie turns into.
Are you having a Brat summer?
You know, I’ve been yearning for a Brat summer. However, I think I will have to save my Brat summer for next summer. I’ve been very busy and when I’m not at work, I’m a grandma. That’s kind of what it’s been this summer. But next summer, I’ll try and go more nuts.
This week, there were reports that Euphoria season three is going to be filming soon. You and your castmates have been a part of so many high-profile projects since the last season aired. What do you think it will be like for all of you to return to that set for so long, separate from one another?
It’s really exciting. What’s beautiful about us is that for a lot of us, we started on Euphoria and we grew up together. We came into the world of Hollywood together. And it’s really beautiful to watch everyone find their own areas and things that they’re passionate about outside of Euphoria. Everyone’s growing up and it’s really cool to watch.
I know for myself, I’ve learned so much. Season two, I still hadn’t filmed a movie and now I have these other films and everything under my belt and I’ve learned so much as an artist and an actor. I’m excited to come back to the show with all of these new tools in my tool kit. I just feel more grown-up and I’m excited to bring that to the table this time.
And, as you were just talking about, it must feel safe to be able to go to difficult spaces on Euphoria having known everyone for so long.
Yeah, that happened very fast in season one. I mean, we’ve all seen each other in very crazy emotional head spaces. There’s a fearlessness that comes with working on that show.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Cuckoo is in theaters August 9.
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