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Hokum: Jump Scares, Goats, and Ghostly Tales
16 Mar
Summary
- Damian McCarthy's 'Hokum' is praised for its skillful use of jump scares.
- Adam Scott plays a bitter alcoholic novelist at a haunted hotel.
- The film features unsettling atmosphere with attacking goats and spectral encounters.
Damian McCarthy's new film, "Hokum," has premiered at SXSW 2026, with Neon set to release it in theaters on May 1. The movie is garnering attention for its effective use of jump scares, a technique director McCarthy has refined since his 2024 film "Oddity."
"Hokum" centers on Ohm Bauman, portrayed by Adam Scott, a novelist grappling with alcoholism and personal loss. He visits the Billberry Woods Hotel in the Irish countryside, a setting filled with eerie atmosphere, folklore, and unsettling occurrences, including aggressive goats and mushroom-tripping guests.
The narrative unfolds as Ohm searches for a missing bartender, Fiona, uncovering the hotel's haunting legend. Trapped within a suite, he encounters spectral beings and nightmarish visions, with sequences that are described as feeling like an immersive video game.
Despite a slight loss of focus in its denouement, "Hokum" is celebrated as a well-executed, classic ghost story. The film's technical aspects, including sound design and cinematography, contribute to its chilling effect, making it a standout in the horror genre.
