Hokum Review
Few filmmakers working in horror today understand the power of tension quite like Damian McCarthy. With each new film, he seems determined to push audiences a little further out of their comfort zone. His latest nightmare, Hokum, might be his most accessible movie yet, but don’t mistake accessibility for restraint. This is easily McCarthy’s most frightening film to date, packed with nerve-shredding tension, brutal jump scares, and a surprisingly sharp sense of dark humor. Anchoring it all is a career best performance from Adam Scott that proves he has far more range than audiences may expect.
Released by Neon, Hokum follows author Ohm Bauman (Scott), a writer struggling to complete the epilogue to the final installment of his book series, The Conquistador Trilogy, while wrestling with personal demons of his own. He is hoping a change of scenery might help him finish the book and perhaps find some long-overdue closure. Ohm travels to the secluded Billberry Woods Hotel in Ireland, a mysterious place his mother once told him about. It also happens to be the place where he believes he should finally bury his parents’ ashes
From the moment he arrives, something feels off. A creepy old man spins stories for local children about a witch who supposedly lives within the hotel and drags lost souls straight to hell. Ohm scares the kids away, revealing a version of Adam Scott audiences rarely see. This Ohm is grumpy, abrasive, and at times downright unpleasant, but beneath that bitterness is a man carrying deep pain.
During his stay, Ohm befriends Fiona (Florence Ordesh), the hotel’s bartender and one of the few people capable of breaking through his rough exterior. Their dynamic adds an unexpected warmth to the story, and her concern ultimately proves crucial when Ohm narrowly avoids tragedy. Soon after, a hotel staff member goes missing, and Ohm becomes determined to uncover what happened. His investigation pulls him deeper into the hotel’s disturbing past and toward the terrifying possibility that the witch rumored to live in the basement may not be a legend after all.
Once the horror kicks in, Hokum becomes relentless. McCarthy carefully builds tension before unleashing a barrage of jump scares that had my entire screening, myself included, physically jolting in our seats. The film’s haunting score amplifies the dread, constantly pushing the audience to scan every shadowy corner of the frame in anticipation of what might emerge.
What ultimately makes Hokum work so well is the way McCarthy balances its tones. Beneath the scares lies a surprisingly emotional character study about grief, guilt, and the struggle to move forward. Adam Scott brings a raw vulnerability to Ohm that grounds the film even as the supernatural elements spiral into pure nightmare territory.
With Hokum, Damian McCarthy once again proves he’s one of the most exciting voices working in horror today. Blending genuine scares, dark humor, and a compelling central performance, the film delivers one of the most entertaining horror experiences in recent memory. It’s not just McCarthy’s scariest film yet, it might very well be his best.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Hokum had its world premiere at SXSW on March 14 and will release in theaters on May 1.
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Seth Fox, widely known online as AccordingtoSeth, is a pop culture commentator and entertainment writer with a passion for movies, television, and gaming. Long regarded as the go-to source for recommendations among friends and followers, he’s now turning that lifelong enthusiasm into a professional career in entertainment media. A fan of all genres with a special love for horror, Seth enjoys spotlighting everything from spine-tingling scares and edge-of-your-seat thrillers to underrated hidden gems. Through thoughtful commentary, exclusive interviews with actors and directors, and coverage of the latest entertainment news, he aims to help audiences discover their next favorite watch.
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