From the visionary mind behind Caveat and Oddity, writer-director Damian McCarthy has returned with Hokum, an atmospheric Irish folklore nightmare released by Neon. For anyone who loved the terrifying wooden mannequin or the front-desk bell of McCarthy’s previous films, this newest addition to his expanding universe of cursed objects is essential viewing.
A Pitch-Black Family Reunion
The film stars Adam Scott (Severance) as Ohm Bauman, a reclusive, blockbuster novelist suffering from severe writer’s block and a massive deficit in social skills. Ohm retreats to a remote, extraordinarily dreary Irish inn to lay his late parents’ ashes to rest at the last place they were ever truly happy.
Naturally, things go south immediately. Between encounters with dead goats and local eccentrics, Ohm learns that the hotel’s locked honeymoon suite is allegedly haunted by the Cailleach—an ancient witch known for dragging souls down to the underworld.
When a friendly bartender named Fiona (Florence Ordesh) mysteriously vanishes after a Halloween party, the film shifts gears. Ohm channels his inner amateur detective, breaking back into the shuttered hotel to unravel a tightly plotted murder mystery.
The Verdict: A Masterclass in Cynicism and Scare Tactics
What makes Hokum work so beautifully is that it refuses to choose between a ghost story and a detective thriller. Instead, McCarthy deftly weaves drama, claustrophobic tension, and emotional trauma into a satisfyingly twisted puzzle box.
Adam Scott deserves a massive round of applause for playing a total, unapologetic dick. Yes, Ohm has a deeply tragic backstory—having accidentally shot his mother as a child, leading to a miserable upbringing under a father who couldn’t forgive him—but it doesn’t excuse him from treating everyone around him like garbage. Scott balances that abrasive, cynical American arrogance with a raw vulnerability that keeps you glued to the screen.
Mirroring the brilliant narrative backtracking of Oddity, the movie features several meticulously crafted timeline reveals that flip earlier events entirely on their head. The supernatural threats remain beautifully inscrutable, but the answer to what actually happened to Fiona lands with the satisfying precision of a classic mystery novel.
What’s in a Name
For those of you who are wondering about the movie’s title, you’re not alone. Hokem means “nonsense.” It also describes “a device used (as by showmen) to evoke a desired audience response.” That’s according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Production Pedigree & Where to Watch
Backing up Scott is a phenomenal ensemble of genre veterans, including David Wilmot (Station Eleven), Will O’Connell (Game of Thrones), and Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead).
The film’s impeccably creepy atmosphere is a massive collaborative effort between Spooky Pictures, Image Nation, and Cweature Features. The behind-the-scenes team reads like a “Who’s Who” of modern horror royalty, with Roy Lee (Weapons), Steven Schneider (Insidious), and Derek Dauchy (Late Night with the Devil) producing.
If you missed its theatrical run earlier this summer, you are in luck. You can skip the ticket lines and stream the “witch tale” from the comfort of your own couch, because Hokum is officially available right now on Digital and VOD. Turn the lights off, lock your doors, and hit play.
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