I’ve been kinda lazy with movies lately (maybe I’m just stuck in a movie slump??), especially when it comes to going to the cinema. But "Hokum" is the first film in a while that genuinely got me excited to sit in a cinema again. No matter how you look at it, Damian McCarthy absolutely succeeds in making an engaging horror movie that leans heavily into atmosphere, culture, aesthetics, and this weird amorphous sense of dread that keeps pulling you in. Even if the ending leaves you terrified or not (I believe it's a cultural thing), the movie still works because it’s clearly rooted in Irish folklore that’s been repackaged in a way that feels accessible to a global audience. The plot itself is surprisingly neat and easy to follow. It’s definitely a slow burn, but never boring: the tension keeps building little by little until you’re fully locked in. And yes, there are a LOT of jump scares, but what I really appreciated is how uncheap they feel. They’re creative, unpredictable, and actually understand the point of a jumpscare instead of just screaming in your face every five minutes. Damian McCarthy is honestly so good at this; you can tell he really trusts visual tension and timing (same thing I loved in "Oddity"). I also love the way he zooms in on random objects and somehow makes them feel sacred, cursed, or deeply unsettling by the end. Between "Oddity" and "Hokum", I still think "Oddity" is scarier, but "Hokum" feels more polished and ambitious overall. No messy yet goofy CGI nor practical effects, everything feels effective and intentional. Also wanna talk about the main character, Ohm Bauman (played by Adam Scott, who I weirdly wasn’t super familiar with before this heheheh, though his face felt recognizable the entire time). His character starts off kinda annoying in that very classic 'writer trying to fix his life by isolating himself somewhere creepy' trope (very "The Shining"-coded), but there’s actual development there by the end. Adam really sells the character because the entire story basically moves through his bad decisions, stubbornness, and curiosity. He feels important to the narrative instead of just being another generic horror protagonist. The supporting cast was also really solid, honestly, if these are mostly Irish actors, I hope they all blow up someday because their acting here was genuinely great. Folklore horror mixed with murder mystery + drama about coping with tragerdy obviously isn’t a new concept, but I really like how "Hokum" repackages those familiar ideas into its own distinct aesthetic. A few years from now, I honestly think people are gonna remember this specific vibe as “that Hokum style.” I do have a couple complaints though: there is one major character whose backstory is barely explained, and it creates some pretty distracting plotholes throughout the movie. Also, the title "Hokum" itself is only said like…once?? which weirdly bothered me the whole time😭 even tho honestly, it’s such a catchy title. Like the second I heard “Hokum,” I immediately went wait hold on… what even is that?? It sounds quirky enough to instantly make you curious, and maybe that alone already makes the movie work.