From the creator of “Caveat” and “Oddity” comes a new horror experience.
By Kristy Puchko on May 1, 2026
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Confirmed at SXSW, Damian McCarthy is now the reigning king of horror. The Irish filmmaker previously amazed audiences with the mind-bending “Caveat” in 2020. Then came “Oddity,” a blend of Irish folklore and horror that revolved around a mysterious wooden man. Now, he’s back with “Hokum,” his best and most terrifying film yet.
I don’t say that lightly. I watch a lot of horror movies. Even beyond my job, I actively search for the unusual and frightening. Though I loved “Caveat” for its surreal eeriness and “Oddity” for its chilling imagery and twists, I wasn’t fully prepared for “Hokum.” Sure, I listed it among my most anticipated films of 2026. But I couldn’t have predicted from Scott’s initial image in a wooden box or even its trailer what was to come. As noted in the headline, this movie scared me so thoroughly and consistently that I screamed myself hoarse by the end.
And I can’t wait to see it again.
What’s “Hokum” about?
Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, “Hokum” follows Ohm Bauman (Scott), an American author haunted by his past. Struggling to finalize his famed book series, “The Conquistador Trilogy,” he travels to Ireland, where his parents honeymooned. There, he plans to scatter their ashes. But before he finds peace or departs the mysterious hotel with its dark history, he’s drawn into the mystery of a missing woman and the legend of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite.
Adam Scott delivers an audacious performance in “Hokum.”
Scott, known for versatile roles across various genres, plays a notably unlikeable character in “Hokum.” His portrayal as Ohm Bauman, with a disregard for social niceties, is both darkly amusing and a warning to horror fans: Bauman’s dismissive attitude towards locals and their lore can only lead to catastrophe. “Hokum” offers a chilling narrative on personal redemption, with Scott embodying the transition from a dismissive outsider to a reluctant participant in supernatural events.
The scares in “Hokum” are relentless.
Damian McCarthy excels at crafting tension, and “Hokum” is packed with jump scares and suspense. Within minutes, the film sets a ghostly presence stalking Ohm, delivering a jump scare that had audiences shrieking at SXSW. McCarthy cleverly diverts from traditional horror scares, instead sustaining an ominous dread that something is there—but can’t be seen just yet.
“Hokum” is a horror masterpiece. As with “Caveat” and “Oddity,” McCarthy weaves folklore with complex characters in an eerie setting to present an enthralling thriller that expands in ambition and star power. Experience the thrills in theaters starting May 1.
Topics: Film, SXSW
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she is an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered numerous film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed various performers and filmmakers.