Hokum (2026) - Spoiler Free Review

Film Details

Director: Damian Mc Carthy

Run Time: 1hr 41m

Cast: Adam Scott, Florence Ordesh, Austin Amelio, Michael Patric, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot

Synopsis

When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote Irish hotel to scatter his parents ashes, he soon finds himself caught up in the tale of a witch that haunts the honeymoon sweet.

My Review

Damian Mc Carthy’s latest instalment into the horror genre is one that refuses to remain within the metaphorical chalk circle of genre restrictions and instead resembles more of a dark thriller with spooky supernatural elements. This allows for nail biting twists and turns to keep audiences on the edge of their seat, whilst adding in the occasional creepy jump scare just to keep us on our toes!

Adam Scott brings Ohm to life wonderfully, an abrasive and downright rude character that slowly unfolds in front of our eyes as we begin to learn of the hidden trauma lying underneath. These haunted memories play an integral part in the storyline and the two are woven together really organically, providing more depth than your usual horror film. Meanwhile the setting of the Irish woodland and the isolated hotel was absolutely perfect, creating a really creepy atmosphere that paired beautifully with the cinematography and musical score, enhancing that sense of unease as the plot thickens and the tales of sinister spirits begin to manifest into something far darker and more tangible.

I will say I was expecting something a little scarier, we certainly had a couple of damn right freaky moments but as I mentioned earlier, Hokum felt more of a dark thriller compared to a horror film. That is likely down to the script tackling quite a few different sub plots at once and it’s difficult to maintain a set tone when taking that approach to storytelling. However, that doesn’t negate the chilling atmosphere that haunted the film throughout the entire run time and we ultimately get a really satisfying conclusion to the story.

My Rating: 7 out of 10

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