Every October brings a flood of horror titles to streaming, and most of them are forgotten by November. Hokum, now available on Hulu, has a good chance of sticking around. Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy, who earned a loyal following with small, clever chillers, has made his most ambitious film yet, and it plays beautifully on a dark evening at home.
Adam Scott stars as a successful American novelist whose career is thriving while his personal life falls apart. He travels to a remote hotel in the Irish countryside to scatter his parents’ ashes at the place where they once spent their honeymoon. The staff warn him about a locked suite and a local legend involving a witch. Being a confirmed skeptic, he shrugs it off, and that is precisely where the trouble begins.
What makes the film stand out is its atmosphere. Damp woods, creaking corridors and carefully timed scares create a mood that lingers. Scott clearly enjoys playing against type: instead of his usual likeable everyman, he is prickly, arrogant and self-destructive, which makes his slow unravelling far more interesting to watch. Some viewers may find the final act a little crowded, but the ride is worth it.
The film also did impressively well in cinemas for an original horror title, which explains why its streaming debut is getting so much attention. For the full cast, background on the director and practical viewing details, see this Hokum streaming guide.
Our directory verdict: dim the lights, skip the phone, and give this one your full attention. It rewards patience with a properly unsettling night in.
