Hokum – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 29th of April 2026
Directed by Damian McCarthy
Written by Damian McCarthy
Produced by Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Derek Dauchy, Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde, and Mairtín de Barra
Starring Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O’Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio
Cinematography Colm Hogan
Edited by Brian Philip Davis
Music by Joseph Bishara
Rating: M
Running Time: 107 minutes
Release Date: the 30th of April 2026
Hokum tells the story of acclaimed and reclusive author Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott). He is in an emotional bind as he is yet to finish his long-awaited novel because he is plagued by visions and sounds echoing his parents. In desperate need of a place to end the metaphorical noise, he travels to a hotel at a remote part of Ireland to spread their ashes.
He reluctantly encounters a circle of colourful characters, including the homeless outcast Jerry (a sympathetic David Wilmot), the bellboy/super-fan, Alby (an amusing Will O’Connell), the high-strung hotel manager, Mal (a suspect Peter Coonan), and the doting bartender Fiona (a charming Florence Ordesh). The weird and off-putting company is a relief once Bauman realises the hotel accommodation may be haunted.
Hokum is from filmmaker Damian McCarthy following his acclaimed Irish horror films Caveat (2020) and Oddity (2024). The supernatural horror, singular cultural flourishes, and dark comedy make McCarthy’s film stand out in the horror genre. For his latest film, he is working within the Hollywood system with a bigger budget and a leading American actor. Will the newly afforded resources accentuate his filmmaking prowess? Or will it hinder and sanitise it?
Much like McCarthy’s prior films, Hokum looks simple on paper. The horror tropes in its premise pay homage to American horror literature e.g. Stephen King. An ordinary man in a haunted house? Check. A tortured writer with inner demons that metaphorically haunt him? Check. A fish-out-of-water story involving colourful and potentially nefarious characters? Check. The film rises above its familiar origins due to McCarthy’s confident, assured directorial hand, and Scott’s brilliantly modulated performance.
The opening involves a scene from the novel Bauman is writing. This deters the audience while presenting a level of intrigue that pays off handsomely in emotional and cinematic fashion. With support from editor Brian Philip Davis, lensing from Colm Hogan, and striking sound design, McCarthy eschews propulsive shocks for brooding atmosphere, while having the scares in Bauman’s point-of-view.
The scares are effectively startling and powerful in their revelatory power, echoing folk tales. This is attributable to using negative space and sparse diegetic sound without verbose exposition. Touches of dark humour also prevents the film from being self-consciously bleak. McCarthy includes moments of stinging barbs from Bauman and some amusing touches, such as how Bauman relinquishes his parents’ ashes in sharp contrast to each other.
What steadies the ship is Adam Scott who is unafraid to make his character repellent and unwaveringly truthful. He portrays Bauman’s death-wish attitude in a prickly and emotionally compromised manner. His pain is compelling and his barbs in the company of others is amusing.
While his character flaws may deter audiences, those very flaws lend the suspense a refreshing perspective. He does not scare easily and in fact could welcome death’s presence.
Overall, Hokum is a bloodcurdling, haunting experience that shows Damian McCarthy at the top of his powers. It is also led by a compelling performance from Adam Scott. Recommended.
Summary: Hokum is a bloodcurdling, haunting experience that shows Damian McCarthy at the top of his powers. It is also led by a compelling performance from Adam Scott.
4
Great
Related Posts
jackass: best and last new trailer out now! →
Michael – Film Review →
Undertone – Film Review →
