The Cuckoo's Curse

This is my first Spanish movie watching experience, and I truly enjoyed watching it. El Cuco (2023) is a horror-thriller film directed by Mar Targarona, known for her work in psychological and suspenseful storytelling. The movie delivers an eerie atmosphere, a gripping plot, and a unique twist on folklore horror, making it a standout experience for me.

The story follows a couple, Anna and Marc, who are expecting their first child. In search of a peaceful place to welcome their baby, they decide to swap homes with a German couple. Initially, everything seems perfect, but soon they begin to experience strange occurrences that hint at something sinister lurking beneath the surface. The film takes inspiration from the legendary figure of "El Cuco," a mythical creature from Spanish folklore often used to scare children into good behavior.

What I found most intriguing about El Cuco was its slow-building suspense. The film does not rely on excessive jump scares but instead creates a psychological horror that gets under your skin. The cinematography effectively captures the isolation and eerie silence of the new home, adding to the unsettling feeling. The color palette is dark and muted, which further enhances the ominous tone of the film.

One of the strongest aspects of El Cuco is its storytelling. It starts with a seemingly normal scenario-two couples exchanging homes-but as the plot unfolds, the tension gradually increases. The mystery of the German couple and their true intentions is revealed layer by layer, keeping the audience engaged. The pacing is well-balanced, ensuring that there are no dull moments.

The performances of the lead actors are commendable. Anna, played by Belén Cuesta, delivers a believable and emotional performance as a woman who senses that something is wrong but cannot fully understand what is happening. Her portrayal of fear and paranoia feels natural, making it easy for the audience to connect with her. Marc, played by Jorge Suquet, complements her performance by portraying a man who initially dismisses her fears but eventually realizes the gravity of their situation. The German couple, played by Hildegard Schroedter and Rainer Reiners, bring an unsettling presence to the film, adding to its psychological horror elements.

The folklore element of El Cuco adds a unique touch to the horror genre. Instead of relying on generic supernatural clichés, the movie explores a cultural myth that is deeply rooted in Spanish and Latin American traditions. The idea that "El Cuco" is more than just a bedtime story for children becomes a terrifying reality for the protagonists. This blending of folklore with modern horror is something I particularly enjoyed, as it made the story feel fresh and original.

The film also explores themes of trust, deception, and the unknown dangers that come with venturing into unfamiliar territory. The idea of home-swapping, which seems like a harmless and even exciting concept, is turned into a nightmare scenario, highlighting how something that appears ordinary can quickly become terrifying. This aspect of the film reminded me of psychological thrillers like The Gift (2015) and The Invitation (2015), where unease builds slowly until it reaches a shocking climax.

The ending of El Cuco is both satisfying and disturbing. Without giving away spoilers, the final moments leave a lasting impact, making the audience reflect on the events of the movie. It avoids the typical horror movie conclusion and instead offers something thought-provoking and chilling.

El Cuco (2023) is a fantastic horror-thriller that successfully combines psychological tension with folklore-based horror. It kept me engaged from start to finish, and I appreciated its slow-burning suspense, strong performances, and eerie atmosphere. As my first Spanish movie, it was a memorable experience, and it has encouraged me to explore more films from Spanish cinema. I highly recommend El Cuco to anyone who enjoys horror movies that rely on atmosphere and psychological dread rather than cheap scares.

Completely unplausible story without a real explanation of who the cople are and why they do what they do. And the usual ridicoulus behaviour from the usual dumb people involved, who don't see what's coming even if you put it under their nose. Plus the whole house swap it's terrible for how it was managed, with totally blind trust with strangers! The ending is terrible as well, usually i don't write reviews for movies, but in this case i'm angry enough to have wasted 1 hour and 38 of my life for this silly story with silly characters. The acting however is pretty good! Avoid it at any cost, at least for me it was a terrible movie, plot wise, that it's the most important thing for a movie, in my modest opinion!

An enjoyable Spanish/German thriller about a couple Marc and Anna who agree a house swap with another couple Olga and Hans who unbeknownst to them want their bodies too ( baby included) El cuco I take it referring to the bird that lays its eggs in other birds nests, removing their egg and laying one of her own in its place whilst the host is unaware.

Anna is pregnant and a doctor, Marc seems rather childish though good natured. Anna especially seems stressed and in need of a break.

When Anna and Marc arrive at the new house ( to them) the atmosphere becomes menacing and unpleasant after a time, most of which effects Marc at this point.

They also meet the daughter of Olga and Hans.

Back at Marc and Anna's house , the way treat the home shows they are not the loveable folks Ana and Marc think they are.

What follows is a very Rosemary's Baby type movie , fantastical for sure, that whilst derivative still draws you in ( mainly thanks to the fine acting) This includes the couples swapping bodies amongst all the blood and eerie chanting type stuff you might expect.

I did care what happens to Anna and her baby ( strangely even more when she swapped bodies) and for that matter her Pomeranian dog Tesla.

If you enjoy the thriller/ horror genre give this a look.

Cast Anna-Belén Cuesta Marc-Jorge Suquet Olga -Hildegard Schroedter Hans -Rainer Reiners.

As always, no pun intended - and as you may be able to tell (especially after watching the movie and if you have seen a few horror movies like I have), you very likely will agree. Not everything needs explanation, actually the movie lays and serves everything right up for the viewer to enjoy.

Is some of the behavior questionable to put it mildly? Yes, but you have to have some suspension of disbelief ... otherwise nothing is possible and/or plausible. Would I just leave my home to anyone? Not really, but again you can't start with thoughts like that ... the rest explains itself and is easy to follow.

What's the overall history? Do you really need to know? I think the movie reveals as much as is necessary ... the acting is great, the cinematography is really good too ... and the script is more than decent enough itself ... there is more to life ... but sometimes also less to it! The door closes opens kind of thing ... doesn't have to be the same room/person, right? Well you'll see ...

It is a horror movie that I have watched and liked recently, which has increased tension and is watched with curiosity even if similar topics have been covered before.

Spanish cinema had slowed down in its extremely successful horror and thriller genres for a while. I hope this movie will be produced again and again.

In the movie, which was produced in 2023, there is a house change situation that we are unfamiliar with. A young couple and an old couple are trying to add color to their lives by changing their house. But the lives of couples are shaken.

While watching it, many annoying situations occur. I never liked the female of the young couple. That's why I can't see the woman as innocent. The man was very sympathetic at first.

There is a lot of nudity and sexuality in the movie.