Cuckoo Trailer: Hunter Schafer Is Menaced By Dan Stevens In Wild ...

Picture the scene — an idyllic rural resort in the German Alps, with trees as far as the eye can see and a bespectacled Dan Stevens in tow. Sounds like the stuff of dreams, right? Well, if the first trailer for Hunter Schafer-starring horror Cuckoo – from Luz director Tilman Singer – is anything to go by, it's more like the stuff of nightmares. Check it out below:

Anybody else's heart pounding after that? Sheesh! Right from the all-too-Shining opening shots of a car wending its way through the countryside, it's abundantly clear that this is no cosy travelogue about sweet birds and European natural wonder. And the shrieks among the trees, ominous shots of taxidermy bears, and Dan Stevens' accented, low-key menacing "How would you like to come work for me at the resort?" here certainly don't suggest a five-star TripAdvisor review is on its way any time soon. In fact, with its throwback 35mm photography, muted palette, mysterious denizens (Hello Jessica Henwick!), looming shadows, and harsh soundscape, Cuckoo looks tailor-made to drive horror fans, well, er, cuckoo honestly.

Check out the official plot synopsis for the film, which premiered at this year's Berlinale and also screened to high praise at SXSW more recently, here: "Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen (Schafer) leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König (Stevens), her father's boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen's mute half-sister Alma (Mila Lieu). Something doesn't seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family."

Why exactly Schafer is bloodied and bandaged by the trailer's climax we'll have to wait and see. But for now, it's safe to say Cuckoo looks less Escape To The Country, more 'Escape From The Country At All Costs'. Seriously, run girl! Cuckoo is set to release stateside in theatres on 9 August. We'll give you the UK release date as soon as we've got one.