FILM REVIEW: Hokum (2026)

Hokum - New Release Review

Director: Damian McCarthy

Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Mallory Adams, Sioux Carroll

Written by: Damian McCarthy

Produced by: Derek Dauchy, Mairtin de Barra, Julianne Forde, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Ruth Treacy

Cinematography by: Colm Hogan

Original Score by: Joseph Bishara

Synopsis:

A horror writer visits an Irish inn to scatter his parents' ashes, unaware the property is said to be haunted by a witch.

Thoughts:

In recent years there has been a rise in the number of Irish filmmakers tackling the horror genre in the mainstream. Last year Aislinn Clarke followed up her unsettling found footage film 'The Devil’s Doorway' with Irish language folk horror 'Fréwaka'. As recently as last month Lee Cronin followed up his devilish entry in the 'Evil Dead' series, 'Evil Dead Rise' with the delightfully mean spirited and gruesome take on 'The Mummy'. One such director who has drawn a lot of attention in recent years is Damian McCarthy. From the creepy 'Caveat' to the spooky elegance of 'Oddity' his brand of tense atmospheric horror broken by jolts of terror has helped make a name for himself in the genre whilst remaining distinctly Irish. 

His latest release 'Hokum' follows bitter American novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) travelling to a hotel in rural Ireland to scatter the ashes of his deceased parents. During his time there, tales of a witch rumoured to be haunting the honeymoon suite causes him to unravel, leading him to confront the mysteries that surround the dark corners of both his and the hotel’s past. 

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The first thing to note about the film is that (like his two previous films) it is very much in keeping with McCarthy’s approach to the genre. The setting of a rural isolated hotel in Ireland is perfect for what becomes almost like a funhouse of ghostly jump scare set pieces and McCarthy certainly delivers on that front. In the audience I saw the film with, during a scene of drawn out tension I could hear a lady whisper to the person beside her, “I am so stressed”. When you hear things like that you know that you are on to a winner. From the halfway point to the end of the film is relentless with scenes like these where McCarthy draws you in with tension making your eyes dart to the darkest corners of the screen, making you think you’ve seen something that isn’t there before jolting you with some of the most effective jump scares you are likely to encounter in any horror film this year. 

It is very clear that the film is paying homage to the work of Stephen King, like '1408' but more so with 'The Shining'. The settings are the same and they both involve a writer who is forced to confront his past, thanks to the supernatural entities that dwell within the hotel. Even the scores of both films bear a lot of similarities through their use of ghostly chorals. Having said that, to dismiss the film as being nothing more than the Culchie version of 'The Shining' is a disservice to the film as 'Hokum' offers a different take to the effect of the supernatural on Bauman. His confrontation with the guilt of his past (like Jack Torrence at The Overlook) in the face of the witch haunting the hotel is more therapeutic than destructive as his scepticism is eroded away and he finds a way to atone for what he has done. Whilst this approach is admirable, it is never fully realised as McCarthy is tossing a lot of thematic ideas at the film. Despite this shortcoming it never diminishes the severity of the horror he delivers on screen. 

His attention to detail is what also makes the film an enticing mystery. His trademark use of uncanny sculptures, decorations and various totems throughout the film make the film unnerving and the production design as a whole is brilliant in making the hotel feel like it is somewhat lost in time with its dour decor and use of dark oppressive colours. It all helps to build the spooky atmosphere that is sustained throughout the film as you feel that you are almost trapped in the hotel with Bauman, questioning what is real and what is not at times in the best way possible.

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As for Bauman, Adam Scott is brilliantly cast in the role with his dry yet sharp retorts to everyone he meets. At times he is mean to a cartoonish level but that is in line with the devilishly dark and distinctly Irish humour that McCarthy injects into his films. Despite being such an asshole you still find yourself caring for the character in some capacity as he dives deeper into the mysteries of the hotel and himself, which is a testament to the empathy Scott draws from his performance. The rest of the cast fit their respective roles perfectly (even if some of them are a little underdeveloped compared to others) but the standout in the supporting cast is David Wilmot as Jerry, the misunderstood hippie like kook who lives in a van near the hotel. He is the comic relief that breaks the tension at just the right moments in the film but Wilmot paints him as a very sympathetic character that you latch onto from the moment you first meet him. 

'Hokum' is another winner for Damian McCarthy solidifying his position as not just one of the best Irish horror filmmakers working today but one of the best in the genre in general. From the get go he wraps the audience in an inescapable atmosphere of fear based folklore that keeps you on your toes throughout. Whilst the thematics of the film are its weak spot the tension it builds and the moments at which it jolts you are timed to perfection making for a fun time at the cinema. 

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

-Joseph McElroy

'Hokum' is released in Irish/UK cinemas on May 1st