Can a ghost story be good if it doesn’t scare you much? With the right director, actors, and story, I’d say so. It’s certainly the case with writer/director Damian McCarthy’s Hokum, starring Adam Scott.
Set in Ireland, the film is the story of writer Ohm Bauman (Scott), who returns to the Billberry Woods Hotel, where his parents honeymooned, to bury their ashes. While there, he meets the hotel employees – manager Mal (Peter Coonan), bartender Fiona (Florence Ordesh), Alby the bellhop (Will O’Connell), and groundskeeper Fergal (Michael Patric) – along with Jerry (David Wilmot), a man living outside the hotel in his van. Ohm is standoffish with virtually everyone; in fact, he’s a right asshole. It’s the perfect role for Scott, whom I’ve never cared for as an actor in any of his previous roles, but he definitely does a great job as the outsider.
Hokum takes its title after Ohm’s response to hearing a tale that the hotel’s honeymoon suite is off-limits because it’s haunted by a witch trapped there by the hotel’s owner, Cob (Brendan Conroy). However, the film itself is far from hokum. McCarthy’s script is tight and shares just enough backstory with most characters to let you care for them. Though it’s positioned as a horror film, Hokum isn’t particularly scary; it’s well-written, though, and the fact that it’s mostly self-contained to the Billberry is a plus. As Ohm explores its various nooks and crannies (including, of course, the honeymoon suite), the viewer also learns about the place. While the Overlook Hotel isn’t, McCarthy still manages to give the location some personality.
With the recent success of both Obsession and Backrooms at the box office, thanks to their built-in YouTube audiences, Hokum didn’t get much notice when it was released this past May. Available now on VOD, it’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a tight, well-made ghost story.
