Besides, the same protagonist, Ohm Bauman, is also a complete asshole who, as a US-based writer, travels to Ireland. There, on a small family pilgrimage, he also finds what is otherwise a classic haunted hotel, but also a truckload of memorable characters from the Irish countryside. Adam Scott, who plays Ohm, is a master at showcasing unpleasant and unlikable individuals, which is why Hokum offered him such a perfect opportunity to do what he does best.
From there, there's a lot of stuff happening, laced with misdirection and some standard horror tropes. The film zig-zag between a folk tale, personal drama, and a haunted mansion-type of story, with some unexpected psychological insight woven into all of this by the director, Damian McCarthy. Previously, McCarthy made Oddity in a similar fashion, but Hokum is more expensive and more ambitious. While not all of the tricks from his new movie land to their maximum desired effect, the film remains gripping and fun from start to finish while the ever-present soothing Irishness makes it one of the best horror films of the year so far.
