Hokum is a supernatural horror film directed by Damian McCarthy. It features Adam Scott as Ohm Bauman, a successful American writer. The film unfolds as Ohm travels to a hotel in rural Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes.
The hotel is rumored to be haunted. It contains a boarded-up honeymoon suite that adds to its eerie atmosphere. The narrative explores deep themes of character trauma and the supernatural.
The story includes elements of Irish folklore, weaving them into the plot. A witch held captive in the hotel serves as a central figure in Ohm’s journey. The film effectively combines jump scares with a sense of claustrophobia, enhancing its horror elements.
Hokum has a runtime of 105 minutes. Critics note its unsettling nature, with one stating, “Hokum is so effectively unsettling that I wished it were shorter, just so I could’ve stopped feeling so full of dread.” Another remarked on its portrayal of women, saying, “Hokum is littered with dead women. They’re mothers and wives and saviors, but they are all dead—and dead by the hands of men.”
The middle section of Hokum has also received praise for its use of the hotel setting. Critics highlight how it enhances the narrative tension.
