Director: Damian McCarthy
What is Hokum About?
Hokum is a supernatural horror film that follows a troubled American novelist, Ohm Bauman, who travels to a remote, aging hotel in rural Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes at the place where they originally had their honeymoon. What begins as a personal journey of grief quickly turns sinister as he learns the hotel harbors dark secrets, most notably a locked honeymoon suite rumored to contain a centuries-old witch. As strange events escalate and a hotel worker mysteriously disappears, Ohm becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, only to find himself entangled in a mix of ghostly encounters, local folklore, and his own traumatic past.
My Personal Thoughts:
In a genre that’s been oversaturated with CGI-heavy spectacles and recycled ideas, Hokum feels like a breath of cold, unsettling air. This is a film that understands what truly makes horror effective. Not just jump scares, but atmosphere, tension, and the quiet dread of the unknown.
From the very beginning, Hokum establishes an incredible sense of place. The remote Irish setting and the eerie, timeworn hotel create an unforgettable backdrop that practically oozes tension and uneasy situations. The atmosphere alone is enough to keep you on edge, but the film doesn’t stop there; it delivers some of the creepiest moments of the year. What really stands out is how well-crafted the scares are. None of them feel cheap or like they were thrown in for easy reactions. Each scare is deliberate and unique, making it linger long after they happen.
Adam Scott leads the film as a deeply flawed and, at times, unlikeable protagonist, which can be a risky move at times, because this is the person we have to follow for an entire film, but it pays off. His performance strikes a careful balance, giving us a character who is difficult to root for, yet compelling enough to stay invested in. The film smartly allows moments of vulnerability and backstory to surface, helping us understand his behavior and offering glimpses of redemption. It’s great to see Scott take on roles like this, proving his range in more dramatic and unsettling territory. We know him mostly for Severance now, but the range he displays in this film as a very serious actor makes me think he will get more diverse roles in the future as well.
That said, Hokum does take its time getting going. The first act feels somewhat directionless, following Adam Scott’s character as he travels to Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes, lacking a strong narrative drive. It isn’t until the haunted hotel room element fully reveals itself that the film truly clicks into place. From that point on, it becomes a relentless ride filled with tension and expertly crafted horror sequences.
Director Damian McCarthy continues to prove his strength in the genre, especially for those who appreciated his previous work. He has a distinct talent for building scares through imagery and subtle details. Much like in Oddity, there’s a constant sense that something might be lurking just out of sight, encouraging viewers to scan every corner of the frame. The film’s score also deserves praise. It enhances the tension beautifully, adding another layer to the already immersive experience.
While the film excels in mood and scares, its storytelling is a bit more elusive. The narrative feels secondary to the atmosphere, leaving some elements underdeveloped. Both the beginning and ending could have benefited from stronger narrative grounding to deepen the emotional connection to the characters. Still, there’s an interesting use of symbolism, particularly in how the story wraps up, which gives viewers something to reflect on after the credits roll.
Despite its minor shortcomings, Hokum succeeds where it matters most. It’s a visually creepy, unsettling film with excellent sound design, editing, lighting, and a clear passion for the craft of horror. In a time when the genre often leans too heavily on excess, Hokum reminds us how powerful restraint and atmosphere can be.
Movie Stub Review:
Hokum is a haunting, atmospheric horror experience with some of the best scares of the year, and I imagine this will be the case for the rest of 2026. While the story may leave you wanting a bit more, the overall execution makes Hokum a must-watch for horror fans. While this was an awesome watch in theatres, I believe this genre is even scarier when watching at home, so I will be excited to dive into it a 2nd time once it hits streaming services.
[…] Hokum […]