Dir: Damian McCarthy
Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Michael Patric, Florence Ordesh, Will O’Connell, Brendan Conroy
With Adam Scott’s sceptical fish-out-of-water protagonist occupying a spooky Irish hotel room, Damian McCarthy’s spine-tingling folk horror conjures up the scares and atmosphere reminiscent of a classic Hammer production
While modern cinema is often accused of recycling ideas and letting studio meddling dilute blockbusters, horror is the one genre that keeps surprising expectations. Since the so-called elevated horror wave began in the early 2010s, what was once a tired corner of Hollywood has transformed into both a cash cow and a badge of prestige. You only have to look at the 98th Academy Awards in March, where horror left its mark on critics and industry insiders alike, with films like “Sinners”, “Weapons”, and “Frankenstein” all taking home Oscars.
This renaissance in horror is fuelled by a wave of visionary filmmakers who have burst onto the scene over the past decade. While early pioneers like Ari Aster and Jordan Peele are now household names, the genre still brims with space for fresh voices to shine. I recently explored Lee Cronin’s gruesomely inventive take on the classic Mummy mythos, and with his latest studio-backed hit, he’s poised for even greater success. But another name making waves in indie horror over the past few years is Irish writer-director Damian McCarthy.
For years, McCarthy juggled his day job as an electrician with crafting short films, some of which flickered across festival screens at events like FrightFest in London. But it wasn’t until 2020, with his debut feature “Caveat”, that he truly stepped into the horror spotlight. Premiering in his native Cork and landing on streaming during the pandemic, “Caveat” found its audience online. That’s where I first encountered McCarthy’s eerie vision on horror platform Shudder, and it left me eagerly awaiting his next film, “Oddity”, which made its debut at SXSW in 2024.
Although his acclaimed second feature had only a limited theatrical run, the buzz from McCarthy’s first two films cemented his status as a rising star in horror. It felt inevitable that one of his projects would break out, and at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, that moment arrived, with Neon picking up his third film, folk horror “Hokum”, for international release. Like “Oddity”, “Hokum” premiered at SXSW, and I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening this past Monday before its UK and North American release on the 1st May.
Staying true to his Irish roots, McCarthy sets “Hokum” in the hauntingly beautiful woodland landscapes of West Cork, where his own passion for horror began. The story centres on Ohm Bauman, a successful yet deeply troubled author played by incredibly versatile Adam Scott, who journeys to a secluded corner of County Cork to scatter his parents’ ashes. He checks into the charming yet dishevelled Bilberry Woods Hotel—the same place where his parents once celebrated their honeymoon.
Hoping the solitude will help him finish his latest novel, Ohm finds himself surrounded by the hotel’s eccentric guests and staff, all convinced that the honeymoon suite hides an ancient witch and remains locked for good reason. Dismissing their tales as pure hokum, Ohm’s scepticism is shaken when a member of staff vanishes without a trace, compelling him to unlock the secrets of the forbidden suite himself.
In an era where horror filmmakers constantly reinvent the genre in search of the next big twist, “Hokum” stands out by embracing a delightfully old-school approach. McCarthy once again proves his knack for crafting claustrophobic, unsettling spaces. The film’s chilling soundscape and the beautifully faded hotel setting evoke the spirit of classic British Hammer films. You can almost imagine the late, great Vincent Price portraying the hotel’s suspiciously creepy owner if he were still alive. While there are a few predictable jump scares, the true terror comes from the thick atmosphere of dread that seeps through every frame. The hotel is a masterpiece of gloom, calling to mind the Overlook from Stephen King’s “The Shining”, with sweeping aerial shots as Ohm winds his way toward the ominous destination, seemingly paying homage to the opening of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic big screen adaptation.
McCarthy once again weaves Irish folklore and lush woodland scenery into his storytelling, but this time he broadens the film’s appeal by giving us a protagonist as sceptical as the audience. Adam Scott is perfectly cast, channelling his experience in both horror and comedy to bring Ohm’s dismissive bitterness to life. As in McCarthy’s earlier films, the supernatural serves as a mirror for psychological torment. Like all great horror protagonists, Ohm is clearly suffering from a tragic past event, which is slowly and devastatingly revealed as the horror and scares ramp up in the second half. Scott sensational walks the fine line between the arrogant, callous outsider and the sympathetic, vulnerable hero.
If you’re questioning whether “Hokum” delivers real scares, rest assured—it absolutely does. Even when you see some frights coming, the film’s blend of blurred reality, creeping psychosis, and supernatural menace keeps you tense as Ohm explores the hotel’s shadowy secrets. At the packed advance screening I attended, popcorn flew more than once from startled hands, and the film’s sly humour made for a riotous cinematic experience.
May is shaping up to be a banner month for horror, with titles like “Obsession”, “Backrooms”, and “Passenger” still on the horizon. If any of them can match the chills, atmosphere, and sheer fun of this month’s first entry, I’ll be thrilled. While “Hokum” may face stiff competition from heavy-hitters like “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2” over its opening weekend, I’m rooting for McCarthy’s wide-release debut to make a splash at the box office—so he can keep delivering even bolder, scarier films in the years ahead.
The Verdict:
With Adam Scott delivering a magnetic turn as an American sceptic adrift in eerie Irish surroundings, “Hokum” conjures fear through masterful atmosphere and mounting dread, revelling in the timeless thrills of classic haunted house horror.
Hokum is showing in UK Cinemas from Friday 1st May
Dan Loves Film 
This is an engaging and richly layered review that captures both the essence of the film and the broader evolution of modern horror. What stands out immediately is your confident voice—you balance industry insight with personal experience in a way that feels both informed and inviting.
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