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At SXSW, 'Hokum' Earns Praise for Adam Scott and Atmosphere, Draws Critiques of Convoluted Plot

NEON sets a May 1 U.S. release following the film’s festival debut.

Overview

  • Adam Scott stars as Ohm Bauman, a bestselling author who checks into a remote Irish hotel steeped in witch lore and a long-closed Honeymoon Suite.
  • Reviewers highlight dread and mood over gore, citing immersive production design and Colm Hogan’s cinematography for sustained tension.
  • Variety calls the film overstuffed and disjointed despite effective scares and a disciplined turn from Scott.
  • Writer-director Damian McCarthy, known for Caveat and Oddity, continues his folkloric, character-driven approach in his third feature.
  • NEON plans a theatrical rollout on May 1 in the U.S., following the SXSW premiere and initial press reactions.