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Adam Scott Leads Irish Thriller “Hokum” US Debut May 1

4/23/2026

39 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Adam Scott Mystery

Hokum opens in the United States on May 1, 2026, via Neon.
Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy wrote and directed it after Caveat (2020) and Oddity (2024).
Adam Scott stars as novelist Ohm Bauman, who travels to an Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes and becomes entangled in a missing-staff mystery and a witch’s legend.
The film premiered at SXSW on March 14, 2026, earned a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, and is rated R.

Summary

Bauman Seeks Help

Bauman dismisses the inn’s folklore rumor as “hokum” despite warnings from bartender Fiona and bellboy Alby.
After an employee vanishes, Bauman seeks help from forest-dwelling spiritualist Jerry.
Jerry links the disappearance to ancient Irish spiritual practices, deepening the film’s folk-horror element.
Bauman’s constant whiskey breath symbolizes his hubris and growing isolation.

Summary

Hogan Mirrors Mind

Cinematographer Colm Hogan uses wide shots and negative space to mirror Ohm Bauman’s unraveling mind.
The sound design layers biting cues with ambient noise, intensifying dread in the second-act chase.
Makeup and creature design for Jack create lingering visual terror that reviewers find unforgettable.
Director Damian McCarthy cites Jacques Tourneur’s Night of the Demon (1957) as a stylistic touchstone for the film’s myth-logic blend.

History

Historical Context

Jacques Tourneur's 1957 film Night of the Demon, adapted from M.R. James's "Casting the Runes," explores the clash between modern skepticism and ancient folklore through the character Dr. John Holden. This film significantly influenced contemporary horror, as seen in Damian McCarthy's Hokum, which integrates Irish spiritual practices, reflecting ongoing societal tensions between tradition and modernity in understanding human fears.

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Adam Scott Mystery

Hokum opens in the United States on May 1, 2026, via Neon.
Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy wrote and directed it after Caveat (2020) and Oddity (2024).
Adam Scott stars as novelist Ohm Bauman, who travels to an Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes and becomes entangled in a missing-staff mystery and a witch’s legend.
The film premiered at SXSW on March 14, 2026, earned a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, and is rated R.

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