Damian McCarthy is one of the most exciting new names in horror. The filmmaker’s 2024 feature Oddity left a mark on genre fans. It led to the upcoming teaming up with the fantastic Adam Scott. In the curiously titled Hokum (read our review here), Scott portrays a bitter horror author. When the writer visits a small Irish town, he settles into a quaint inn to scatter his parents’ ashes near a local landmark. However, he finds himself facing off against the legend of a witch that haunts the inn.
One of my favorite sub-genres in horror is the haunted-house thriller. Yet rarely do they settle into me quite like Robert Wise’s brilliant The Haunting. Or the underappreciated George C. Scott spookfest, The Changeling. Hokum shocked me. It is easily one of the most unsettling and compelling films of the year. The script by Mc Carthy is sublime, and Mr. Scott gives one of his best performances. It’s an absolute must-see for horror fans—or pretty much anybody, if you appreciate smart and satisfyingly haunting thrillers.
I recently sat down to speak with Mr. Scott and Mr. McCarthy. One aspect I particularly loved was how Scott’s character was handled. It’s an excellent performance, one that he discussed taking on. Watching these two chat about this creepy feature gives me hope that they will collaborate again. Hokum is one of the best examples of modern folklore that you could hope for. This is horror at its finest, haunting and unforgettable. See it with a crowd.
Hokum haunts theatres this Friday.
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