Entertainment Blog #420 | Hokum [2026] : Welcome to the Honeymoon Suite...
When it comes to Gothic horror, the greatest fear isn't always what lurks in the darkness. Sometimes it's the past itself. Haunted castles, ancient curses, and forgotten folklore have always been at the heart of the genre, but what truly makes these stories memorable is how they force their characters to confront the things they've spent their entire lives trying to escape. Hokum embraces that tradition, blending supernatural horror, Irish folklore, and psychological mystery into a chilling experience where every answer only uncovers an even darker secret.
"Hokum" (2026) is a #horror #supernatural #gothic #mystery #movie written and directed by Damian McCarthy, best known for Oddity and Caveat. The film stars Adam Scott as novelist Ohm Bauman, alongside Florence Ordesh, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio. Running for 107 minutes, the film premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival before receiving a theatrical release by Neon, quickly becoming one of the year's most talked-about supernatural horror films.
The story follows Ohm Bauman, a successful but emotionally distant author who travels to a remote inn in rural Ireland to scatter his late parents' ashes. Hoping the quiet countryside will also help him finish his latest novel, Ohm instead finds himself surrounded by unsettling stories about a witch said to haunt the hotel's infamous honeymoon suite. At first, he dismisses the local legends as nothing more than superstition, but strange visions, unexplained disappearances, and increasingly disturbing encounters soon convince him that something inside the old hotel is very real—and it's been waiting for him all along.
As the story unfolds, the film gradually shifts from a haunted-house mystery into something much more psychological. Every corridor, every room, and every conversation feels loaded with hidden meaning, making it impossible to know who—or what—can be trusted. Rather than relying on constant jump scares, Hokum slowly builds an overwhelming sense of dread, allowing its eerie atmosphere to do most of the work. The mystery surrounding the hotel's past becomes just as compelling as the supernatural events themselves, keeping the tension high until the final act.
Beyond its haunting premise, Hokum explores themes of grief, guilt, and the emotional baggage people carry long after loss. Ohm isn't simply battling supernatural forces—he's also confronting painful memories and unresolved regrets that have shaped his life. The film cleverly blurs the line between psychological trauma and paranormal horror, leaving you questioning whether the ghosts haunting the hotel are truly supernatural or reflections of the darkness already living inside its guests. It's a slow-burning story that rewards patience rather than rushing toward easy answers.
What stood out most after watching the film was Damian McCarthy's ability to create fear through atmosphere instead of spectacle. Adam Scott delivers one of the strongest dramatic performances of his career, portraying Ohm as a deeply flawed man whose arrogance slowly gives way to fear and vulnerability. The supporting cast also adds plenty of personality to the mysterious hotel and its unsettling residents. Visually, the film is stunning, making excellent use of Ireland's isolated landscapes and gothic architecture to create an environment that feels unsettling long before anything frightening actually happens. While the pacing may feel slow for viewers expecting nonstop scares, the eerie mood and constant sense of unease make the journey worthwhile.
From a production standpoint, Hokum was produced on an estimated $5 million budget and became a solid commercial success, grossing around $15 million worldwide. Following its premiere at SXSW, Neon released the film theatrically, where it earned praise for continuing Damian McCarthy's distinctive style of atmospheric horror built around folklore, mystery, and psychological tension.
Critically, the film received positive reviews, with many praising McCarthy's direction, Adam Scott's performance, and the film's haunting atmosphere. Critics highlighted its unsettling visuals, strong sound design, and commitment to slow-building suspense, although some felt the deliberately ambiguous storytelling and measured pacing wouldn't appeal to everyone. Audience reactions have been largely positive as well, especially among horror fans who enjoy folk horror and psychological mysteries over conventional jump-scare-heavy films.
So can Ohm uncover the truth behind the haunted inn before it consumes him completely? Are the terrifying legends surrounding the witch merely folklore, or something far more real? And when the past refuses to stay buried, how do you escape a nightmare that already knows your name? It's up to you to find out.