HOKUM -- A Bold, Bone-Chilling Triumph for Damian McCarthy and Adam Scott

Review by Chadd Clubine

Writer-director Damian McCarthy is quickly establishing himself as a distinctive voice in horror. His previous film, Oddity, became a sleeper hit upon its release two years ago, raising expectations for what he might do next. With Hokum, he appears poised to deliver one of the most unsettling genre entries in recent memory. Adam Scott’s casting as the lead is anything but trivial. Known for his range across both horror and comedy, Scott brings a sharp sensibility to his roles. With his recent surge in popularity from Severance, he’s in a position to be more selective—and after watching the film, it’s clear he recognized something special here.

McCarthy seems to have a deep well of stories to draw from, each rooted in strong characterization and deliberate storytelling. Hokum marks a clear step up from Oddity in both respects, showing greater confidence in how its characters and narrative are shaped. The world-building established in the film’s opening twenty minutes can feel a bit uneven at first, but it ultimately proves essential to the way the story unfolds. Certain aspects of Scott’s character may initially seem puzzling, even inconsistent, yet they gradually come into focus as the film progresses. McCarthy appears fully aware of this early ambiguity; rather than alienating, it draws you in. The details are carefully layered, creating a sense of intrigue that keeps you engaged and eager to see how everything connects.

The film delivers its scares more effectively than most recent entries in the genre. Where jump scares often feel predictable, clichéd, or unearned, Hokum keeps you on edge, creating the sense that something could happen at any moment. Just when you think you’ve found a moment of safety, the film pulls you right back into the dread surrounding Scott’s character. And it doesn’t rely solely on sudden shocks. McCarthy allows the tension to breathe, lingering on carefully constructed scenes that burrow under your skin and stay there, letting the unease build until it becomes almost unbearable.

Adam Scott shows a sharp understanding of the spaces he works in. While comedy may be his most familiar lane, horror allows him to tap into an everyman quality that makes his character easy to connect with—even at his most abrasive. It’s a performance that invites empathy without sanding down the character’s harsher edges. Outside of Severance and Parks & Recreation, this stands as one of Scott’s strongest film roles. He manages the difficult balance of making an unlikable character compelling, finding nuance in both his cruelty and vulnerability. Scott leans fully into those contradictions, shaping a character who feels layered, human, and complete.

Where the film may prove divisive is in how it begins and ends. There’s a clear purpose behind the story McCarthy is telling, but those moments can feel tonally out of step with the rest of the film, creating a jarring effect. Seeing the Neon logo at the start almost prepares you for that kind of bold, off-kilter choice—much like films from A24, where you sometimes feel as if you’ve wandered into the wrong movie before everything clicks into place. Structurally, the decision to end where the film began works as a strong bookend. Still, the opening and closing might have landed more smoothly had they aligned more closely with the film’s overall tone.

Overall, Hokum isn’t just one of the scariest films in recent years—it’s among the best of the year so far. The more you sit with it, the more it reveals, growing richer and more effective in hindsight. Its originality is especially striking, a reminder of how inventive the horror genre can still be. Adam Scott delivers one of the strongest performances of his career, while Damian McCarthy continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting emerging voices in filmmaking. Some of the creative choices may divide audiences, but they feel intentional, all in service of the story McCarthy is aiming to tell.

Hokum is now playing in theaters.

RATING: 4/5