After premiering and frightening their audiences at this year’s SXSW, Damian McCarthy’s Hokum is now playing in theaters. Though I was definitely intrigued by the movie’s synopsis and the casting of lead actor, Adam Scott, I was unable to enjoy the film at the fest. Still, the positive buzz was undeniable, and a few of my film critic friends were certainly singing its praises. Thankfully, I was given another opportunity to review the film through a press screening, and after enjoying this creepy, frightening, and emotionally charged horror-thriller, I can see why it created such a buzz.
Adam Scott stars as Ohm Bauman, a successful and acclaimed author struggling to finish the conclusion of his book trilogy. Bauman’s difficulties are not a mere case of writer’s block, though. In fact, Bauman is having trouble finding peace and happiness in his life. For the sake of some closure, Ohm decides to finally honor his late parents’ wishes and spread their ashes at the place of their beloved honeymoon spot, The Bilberry Woods Hotel in rural Ireland. However, not long after he arrives, Bauman discovers there is much more to this hotel than meets the eye.
Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum is not only a great haunted-hotel movie with creepy, atmospheric build-ups and palpable scares. It is also a story of a broken man trying to escape the trauma and demons of his past. The movie is more introspective than I anticipated. I was genuinely moved by Ohm Bauman’s more personal problems. I am much more familiar with Adam Scott’s comedic work, so I had never experienced his dramatic side.
And he is absolutely outstanding as Ohm Bauman. At first, he comes across as socially awkward, rude, and so utterly unlikable, but as one gets to know his character and his backstory, he becomes someone more worthy of empathy. Both the writing and Scott’s performance deepen Ohm, and as a result, the character is fleshed out and realized beautifully. I also enjoyed the performances of the supporting players: Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Will O’Connell, Michael Patric, and Brendan Conroy.
As I stated above, Hokum is now playing in theaters, and is a horror movie I highly recommend for horror fans seeking some depth and emotion in addition to chills, suspense, and thrills. It is not a completely dour affair, as there are some fun surprises and just enough comedic moments to make it a fun experience overall.