Damian McCarthy’s work consistently portrays the Irish wilderness as an oppressive place, continuing a history of films centered on remote dwellings harboring sinister mysteries and unsettling forces. It seems like the Irish Tourism Board might suggest he consider different locations for his stories! Following **CAVEAT** and **ODDITY**, **HOKUM** continues McCarthy’s ability to generate a disturbing environment for those characters who find themselves in peril. In **HOKUM**, Adam Scott portrays Ohm Bauman, an American author struggling with personal issues, who travels to a secluded, gothic hotel in Ireland—the site of his parents' honeymoon—to scatter their remains. While there, Ohm learns that the hotel staff holds strong beliefs in local superstitions, particularly regarding the owner’s supposed capture of a Cailleach – essentially, a "witch" – within the Honeymoon Suite. Intrigued by the hotel’s restricted Honeymoon Suite—the origin of the film's name—Ohm is unable to resist looking into it himself. The events that unfold initially bring to mind **1408** or **SESSION 9**, but with a distinct Irish folk-horror feel. As Ohm becomes more inquisitive, so does the audience’s attention on whatever might be hidden within those rooms, or perhaps it's all just what he dismisses as "hokum"? Similar to his acclaimed **ODDITY**, McCarthy creates fear through atmosphere alone, turning shadowy hotel spaces and poorly lit hallways into places of growing anxiety. Scott’s acting is key to the film's impact, providing a believable portrayal of Ohm’s disbelief, pride, and declining mental state with an appropriate mix of humor and discomfort. As a suspenseful thriller, **HOKUM** represents one of McCarthy's strongest efforts to date, worthy of showing in theaters, and I am eager to see what he creates next.

Source on TMDB