Hokum 2026

A grieving horror novelist travels to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, only to find himself trapped in a place haunted by local legends, missing guests, and a witch said to lurk within the property. That setup drives Hokum, Damian McCarthy’s 2026 supernatural horror film. Rather than relying on constant jump scares, the story builds tension through isolation, folklore, and the growing unease surrounding the hotel’s infamous honeymoon suite.

• Release Date: May 1, 2026
• Director: Damian McCarthy
• Genre: Gothic Supernatural Horror
• Runtime: 107 Minutes
• Studio/Platform: Neon, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Tailored Films, Spooky Pictures

Hokum Cast

Adam Scott carries the film as Ohm Bauman, a successful horror writer whose sarcasm and emotional baggage make him far from a typical horror protagonist. Scott’s performance works because Ohm is often difficult to like, yet his grief and guilt remain visible throughout the story. The interactions between Ohm and the hotel’s staff—including Mal (Peter Coonan), Fiona (Florence Ordesh), and Jerry (David Wilmot)—create much of the film’s tension as he struggles to determine who can be trusted. Their uneasy relationships keep the mystery moving while gradually revealing the darker history of the inn.

The Filmmaking & Production Details

Writer-director Damian McCarthy, known for Oddity and Caveat, once again leans heavily into atmosphere. The rural Irish setting becomes one of the film’s strongest assets, with narrow corridors, dimly lit rooms, and isolated landscapes creating a constant feeling of dread. Joseph Bishara’s score adds to that mood without overwhelming the scenes, while cinematographer Colm Hogan keeps the focus on shadows and confined spaces rather than large-scale visual effects. The result is a horror film that feels rooted in folklore and mystery rather than spectacle.

Hokum Release Date & Where to Watch

Hokum premiered at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 14, 2026, before receiving a theatrical release in the United States on May 1, 2026 through Neon. The film became available on digital platforms on June 2, 2026, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. As of June 2026, it is not part of a subscription streaming service, though industry reports suggest a future streaming release on Hulu is likely due to Neon’s distribution arrangements.