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SXSW Buzz Builds for Damian McCarthy’s Hokum as NEON Sets May 1 Release

Early reviews highlight Adam Scott’s performance alongside claustrophobic, old-school scares.

Overview

  • Hokum bowed at SXSW to broadly positive reception that favors atmosphere and restraint over detailed folklore.
  • Adam Scott stars as Ohm Bauman, a novelist who encounters a missing-person mystery at a remote Irish hotel.
  • Critics commend Colm Hogan’s shadow-rich cinematography and Brian Philip Davis’s calibrated editing for sustaining dread.
  • Coverage describes a throwback, Stephen King–tinged approach that culminates in a tightly contained, nerve-jangling finale.
  • NEON has slated a U.S. theatrical opening for May 1, 2026, with a listed runtime of 101 minutes.