Hokum

“Hokum” is the latest spine-chiller from writer-director Damian McCarthy, and it’s set to hit theaters on April 29th, 2026. The film centers around Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott), a novelist who takes a retreat to a remote inn with a rather dark history. There, he intends to scatter his parents’ ashes but instead finds himself entangled in tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite.

The setup is familiar territory for horror fans: an isolated location, a character with some personal skeletons (or ghosts), and an eerie local legend that refuses to stay buried. What elevates “Hokum” slightly above typical formula is McCarthy’s keen eye for unsettling detail and his ability to maintain a sense of dread even when the plot veers into predictable territory.

Adam Scott delivers what feels like another quirky yet intense performance, though one can’t help but wish he had more than just his usual bag of tricks on display. His character, Ohm Bauman, is supposed to be grappling with some deep-seated issues tied to both his parents and the local legend. However, the script’s handling of this aspect feels a bit muddled.

The supporting cast, including Mallory Adams as Delia Bauman (Ohm’s mother), adds depth to the narrative without fully fleshing out their characters’ motivations and backgrounds. Adams particularly brings an understated gravity that helps anchor some of the film’s more supernatural elements in reality.

The witch herself, played by Sioux Carroll, is a standout presence when she appears on screen. Her performance is hauntingly effective, though her role remains somewhat mysterious, as much about what we don’t see as what we do.

Visually, “Hokum” is striking, thanks to the work of director of photography Colm Hogan and production designer Til Frohlich. The remote inn, which could easily be a prop for any number of clichéd horror tropes, is made to feel like an actual place with its own history and secrets.

The soundtrack by Joseph Bishara (known from films like “The Conjuring” series) adds another layer of tension. His score effectively underscores the uneasy atmosphere without overplaying the scares.

However, the film’s runtime of 107 minutes feels just a bit too short to fully explore its themes and characters. There are moments where you might wish for more development or insight into Ohm’s internal conflict, which would have given the narrative a stronger emotional core.

In summary, “Hokum” is a competent horror film that manages to be engaging if not entirely groundbreaking. Its strongest suit lies in the atmospheric elements and its performances; Scott’s turn as the troubled writer is effective enough, but it leaves you wanting a bit more nuance and depth from his character arc.

If you’re looking for a good time with some genuinely scary moments and a well-crafted atmosphere, “Hokum” should deliver. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it does manage to spin that wheel in an interesting way.

This article was generated by an AI system and reviewed by our editorial process.