MY REVIEW FOR HOKUM
In Hokum, we follow Ohm Bowman (Adam Scott), a depressed, alcoholic writer with an attitude issue. He travels from America to Ireland to spread his parent’s ashes, staying at their honeymoon spot while there. Ohm eventually becomes personally invested in a local mystery, deciding to investigate on his own. He winds up trapped in the hotel’s honeymoon suite where he will have to survive a litany of terrors if he’s going to make it out alive.
Adam Scott is compelling and interesting as our leading man, Ohm. Scott deftly mixes humor and pathos to an effective degree. Ohm makes for an engaging lead despite his overall sour personality, and it’s fun to follow him on his personal quest. Ohm isn’t just an audience stand-in as he is a fully developed character with layers.
The stand-outs of the supporting cast are David Wilmot as Jerry, Will O’Connell as Alby the bellhop and Jack the Jackass, and Florence Ordesh as Fiona. Fiona is a kind, friendly bartender whom Ohm warms up to and befriends. She ends up coming in for the clutch a few times when Ohm needs help. Jerry is a strange hermit who enjoys ‘Shrooms and winds up investigating the mystery alongside Ohm. Jerry is low-key the GOAT. Alby is a dejected bellhop who seeks approval from Ohm, and Jack the Jackass is the scary host of a kids tv show. The cast cobbled together for Hokum is strong and likable, each character adding something different to the proceedings.
Damien McCarthy writes and directs. He previously wrote and directed Caveat and Oddity. While Oddity is more consistently creepy and scary than Hokum, the atmosphere crafted here is still rich, tense, and freaky. McCarthy took clear inspiration from 1408 and The Shining, sprinkling a little bit of Irish folklore on top and adding his own personal flavor to the mix. While there are a good deal of jump scares throughout (most of which fall flat), there is one genuinely terrifying sequence in the third act.
The strongest aspects of Hokum aren’t the scares, but its rich and satisfying story, and the consistently tense and creepy atmosphere. This is another winner for McCarthy. Check in to the Bilberry Hotel, ask for the Honeymoon Suite. A scary, sad, and surprisingly heartwarming time awaits.
4 STARS