Adam Scott, known for his role in Severance, returns to the horror genre with the Irish folklore film Hokum. Having grown up watching horror movies from a very young age, Scott never specifically aimed to work in this genre, yet it frequently served as a backdrop to his career trajectory. His initial significant role was in Hellraiser IV in 1996, stating it was simply the job he got. He later starred in Krampus due to its 80s film appeal similar to Poltergeist and E.T. unintentionally building up a substantial horror genre portfolio, including leading the sci-fi thriller Severance.
In his latest project, Hokum, directed by Damian McCarthy of Oddity fame, Scott again ventures into horror, not drawn by the genre, but by the character and story. Hokum debuts in theaters on May 1st, with Scott playing Ohm, a novelist visiting Ireland to spread his parents’ ashes. The story transitions from him being unsympathetic to exploring a deeper connection with the haunted hotel’s past, reflecting his character’s evolution.
Scott was particularly drawn to McCarthy’s work in Oddity, where inanimate objects exuded a unique terror. The film posed challenges, featuring solo scenes where Scott interacted with the hotel’s eerie environment, likening it to acting alongside another character. Despite initial doubts about solo performance, the setting’s haunting details facilitated a naturally tense and claustrophobic experience.
Scott admired McCarthy’s collaborative and relaxed atmosphere, contrasting the film’s terror with the scenic Irish landscapes in Skibbereen, West Cork. Hokum fortifies Scott’s horror repertoire, aligning him with comedians transitioning into horror, noting parallels between inducing laughter and fear through tension and atmosphere.