“Hokum” is a horror movie that was released on May 1, 2026. It tells the tale of an American author who travels to Ireland to spread his parents’ ashes. While there, he hears rumors of the hotel being haunted by a witch. A journey to find a missing person ensues, and it is filled with visions. The movie was directed by Damian McCarthy and stars Adam Scott.
The movie was suspenseful and scary. There were camera
angles where viewers may think something could happen or jump out, leaving them
on the edge of their seats. There was one jump scare that people may not have
expected, but I could sense that it was going to happen, and I was right.
The movie takes place around Halloween in Ireland. Ireland
is the birthplace of Halloween, which started out as Samhain. During this time,
it is believed that the veil between the Earth and the Otherworld was thinner.
Bits of Irish folklore and mythology are sprinkled throughout the movie.
Halloween and Samhain are a huge part of this in terms of the timing of the setting.
There was the haunting of the hotel’s honeymoon suite by the witch. Chalk
circles are used to protect from witchcraft.
While the movie is scary, it also has an atmosphere of
mystery. There is a sense of building up the story, which stays true to Ireland’s
history of storytelling. In some instances, this distracts people from the
scary parts, though there are some parts that are scary.
The word “hokum” means “a message that seems to convey no
meaning,” with synonyms being nonsense and meaninglessness. This was disappointing,
as the title sounds like something that would be based on Irish culture or
mythology.
Viewers should be aware of some triggers that occur
throughout the movie. There are instances of self-harm as well as gun injuries.
Toward the beginning of the movie, there is a dead animal shown on screen. The
movie opens with the author writing his novel, and part of this includes a
father nearly hitting his son with a bottle, which would kill the child.
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