If you’re a horror fan who’s not yet familiar with the work of Damian McCarthy—you will be soon. The writer-director of 2020’s Caveat and 2024’s Oddity is about to release his most high-profile film to date, thanks to its star: Severance‘s Adam Scott. While McCarthy’s earlier films are excellently creepy and well worth seeking out (Oddity achieved the rare feat of making me, a seasoned horror hag, scream out loud), Scott’s name will surely attract more eyeballs to Hokum, which just dropped a disturbing first teaser.
Hokum was announced early this year with the added attraction of being produced by the team behind 2024 standout Late Night With the Devil. It’s being distributed by Neon, home of Longlegs and Presence.
The teaser also touts its producer connection to Weapons. And yes, there’s a witch involved!
We don’t have many more plot details than what was announced previously, though the information attached to the teaser does add on a little: “When reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (Scott) retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.”
McCarthy is Irish, and his previous two features are also set in Ireland. The Hokum teaser sure makes it look like the film will embrace his trademark blend of eerie atmosphere, a central mystery with supernatural elements, folk-horror frights, and jump scares that earn it when they make you leap out of your seat.
Hokum hits theaters May 1. Will you be checking in for it?
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