The Stream: A slow middle part drags the movie down.

The Big Screen: Creepy setting and a few intense jump scares.

The Final Bill: Creepy vibes and a strange mystery are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Damian McCarthy
Writers: Damian McCarthy
Stars: Adam Scott, David Wilmot, Michael Patric, Will O’Connell, Peter Coonan, Florence Ordesh
Genre: Horror
Rating: R for some violent/disturbing content and language
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Production Companies: Tailored Films, Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, Neon
Platform: In theaters May 1, 2026
Notable Trailers: I Love Boosters, Leviticus

It’s time to play catch up, Streamers. There really is too much going on, so I missed the first weekend of the Gothic supernatural horror film, Hokum. I had to “circle” back with my eyes covered to see Adam Scott in this haunted hotel flick. In Hokum, Ohm Bauman (Scott), a misanthrope and successful writer, makes a pilgrimage to Ireland to spread his parents’ ashes. At the hotel where his parents honeymooned in rural Ireland, Bauman encounters a cast of mysterious characters and the tale of the haunted honeymoon suite that’s now off limits. When one of the staff members disappears, Bauman decides to investigate with harrowing consequences. Ringing bells, rattling chains, and supernatural hijinks ensue.

Hokum is a horror movie that coasts more on vibes than on jump scares. The mood and setting of this film go a long way to making the audience uneasy. The film uses the remoteness of the location and darkness of the hotel to enhance the creep-factor. In fact, the haunted hotel is very dark at times that it’s hard to tell what’s around every corner. There are jump scares at random times that never let you settle. These things help to draw you into the movie and keep you captivated for most of the time. Additionally, the cast of characters is varied and interesting. Adam Scott as Ohm Bauman gives a good performance as the off-putting author. He builds a good relationship with the hotel’s bartender, Fiona (Florence Ordesh) and a local mystery man, Jerry (David Wilmot). These relationships bring tension to the movie and make the audience want to know what’s happening in this hotel.

On the other hand, there is kind of a lull in the middle third of the movie. The story gets stuck in one place for too long, which unfortunately relieves some of the tension that had been building. It’s not boring, but it does get a bit redundant. How many times can you really jump at a shadow in the corner though? As the situation goes off the rails, the movie picks up steam that helps propel it to its combustible ending.

Ultimately, Hokum is a good haunted hotel horror film. It has a creepy mood that is enhanced by its remote and dark location. The cast works together to develop the mystery that pulls the audience in. While some jump scares work, the middle of the movie does get a little redundant. Grab a bowl of popcorn for the theater but stay out of the honeymoon suite.