The trailer for the upcoming horror film “Hokum” was released Wednesday.
“Hokum” follows the journey of a horror author, Ohm Bauman, as he travels to Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes, where they had their honeymoon. As Bauman discovers, the remote inn is reportedly haunted by a witch.
According to the trailer, it appears some of the unusual occurrences Bauman witnesses at the inn include odd strangers, a missing staff member and an eternally locked honeymoon suite, all of which escalate into seemingly demonic activity, which Bauman must face off against.
Directed by Damian McCarthy, “Hokum” seems to be a promising addition to the horror genre, as McCarthy is known for his past films “Caveat” and “Oddity.” Although these somewhat niche films might have flown under the radar, they were mostly critically well-received, boding well for the success of “Hokum.”
Interestingly, McCarthy is from Ireland, which could lend a uniquely authentic perspective to the Irish setting of the movie. This is especially true if he chooses to lean into some of the haunting folklore associated with Ireland, though that is unclear.
The trailer boasts that “Hokum” is produced by the same producer as “Weapons” and “Barbarian,” two extremely successful horror movies. “Weapons,” in particular, rose to prominence as it was nominated for an Oscar award, which tends to be rare for horror films.
“Barbarian” was also critically acclaimed for its deeper message concerning abuse and masculinity. This connection to these two highly praised horrors is sure to help put director McCarthy on the map and bring “Hokum” to a more mainstream audience than his past films.
Playing the role of Bauman is actor Adam Scott, who is also likely to help publicize “Hokum.” Scott is primarily known for his role as Ben Wyatt in the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” but he has recently become recognized as a more serious actor due to his role in the Apple TV original series “Severance.” In “Severance,” Scott portrays a man whose consciousness is severed between his work and home life, essentially playing two different characters.
This type of complex role truly highlighted Scott’s dramatic acting prowess, with the show having won 10 Emmy awards across its two seasons. While “Hokum” is Scott’s first foray into the horror genre, with past credits including “Hellraiser: Bloodline” and “Krampus,” this is his first major role in such a highly anticipated horror film.
Audiences are no strangers to the subgenre of haunted hotel horror, which “Hokum” falls into, with some of the most famous past examples including “The Shining” and “American Horror Story: Hotel.” In an already saturated trope like this, it will be interesting to see whether “Hokum” can break out into a unique take on the haunted hotel concept, or if it will trudge through unoriginal territory.
Aside from the haunted hotel subgenre, “Hokum” also falls into the tradition of witch-based horror. While this is less of a narrowly defined trope than that of the haunted hotel, it is also a common theme in horror films. While such a classic horror monster may seem cliché, there are recent films that originally attempted the subgenre, such as “Hereditary,” “The Witch” or even “Weapons.”
While audiences may grow tired of overdone concepts in horror, if “Hokum” can take on such ideas in ways other films have not previously done, it will likely be capable of capturing the attention of audiences and critics.
Overall, audiences can look forward to seeing whether or not “Hokum” breaks genre norms, as well as Adam Scott’s step in a new direction.
“Hokum” will be released in theaters May 1.
