Hokum (4K UHD Review)
Director
Damian McCarthyRelease Date(s)
2026 (August 11, 2026)Studio(s)
NEON (Decal Releasing)- Film/Program Grade: A
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: B+
Review
Damian McCarthy has slowly been building a reputation as a filmmaker since 2020’s Caveat and 2024’s Oddity. Nowhere is that more apparent than in his latest effort, the Irish folk horror mystery thriller Hokum. Released in 2026, it was unfortunately lost in the shuffle due to the overwhelming success of Obsession and Backrooms, in addition to all the attention that big budget Hollywood bombs and successes were getting at the time, which is a pity.
Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) is a successful author struggling with his past, specifically the death of his mother when he was a child. He decides to stay at a small inn in Ireland where his parents honeymooned, planning to scatter their ashes nearby. There he becomes friendly with the hotel’s bartender, Fiona (Florence Odesh), and takes an interest in Jerry (David Wilmot), a local living out of his van. The longer he stays, the more he becomes aware of the hotel’s honeymoon suite, which is supposedly haunted by a witch. However, it has been closed off by its owner, Cob (Brendan Conroy), and locked up by the concierge, Mal (Peter Coonan). Under the watchful eyes of bellhop and avid fan Alby (Will O’Connell), as well as the gruff groundskeeper Fergal (Michael Patric), Bauman soon discovers something both sinister and supernatural about the hotel. Also among the cast are Mallory Adams, Sioux Carroll, Austin Amelio, and Ezra Carlisle.
And that’s about as much as I can say about Hokum without totally spoiling it. This isn’t necessarily a horror film that’s concerned with jump scares, though what’s provided is certainly earned. It’s more about building steady dread and atmosphere as we go down this dark rabbit hole with Bauman. It’s also emotionally charged since his past, which is revealed in more detail as the film continues, is brought to the forefront and plays a critical role in his journey as a character. He’s not a good person when the film begins, plagued by something that we’re not privy to yet, but by the end, he has some serious growth—not in a saccharine or illogical way, but he comes out of his ordeal a little more grounded as a person.
The horror elements, which are pure Irish folk horror, are definitely intrinsic to the story. Shadows and darkness play a major part, which keeps you peering into the abyss and feeling apprehensive about what might be there. The primary image from the film that many might see online before actually watching it is from a fictional children’s television show that Bauman watched as a child, which becomes a re-occurring figure, and for good reason. The deeper we go, Damian McCarthy manages to masterfully maintain the suspense, particularly during a couple of very memorable sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat.
Going in as blind as possible into Hokum is definitely the most ideal and effective way to experience it. The characters are strong, the performances are good, and the film is downright spooky in all the right ways. And the more you allow yourself to soak in it, the more you’ll get out of it.
Cinematographer Colm Hogan captured Hokum digitally (at a maximum resolution of 6K) with Sony Venice and Arri Alexa Mini LF cameras and Tribe 7 Blackwing7 T-tuned lenses, the results of which were finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate, and framed theatrically at the aspect ratio of 2.39:1. Decal Releasing debuts the film on Ultra HD straight from its 4K DI source, which has been graded for High Dynamic Range in HDR10 only, and encoded to a triple-layered BD-100 disc. It’s an outstanding image that soaks up the detail in the image, especially in the darkness, with precision. Bitrates sit mostly in the 80 to 100Mbps range and beyond, giving what little detail can be seen in some of the darkest areas of the frame the most clarity. The digital image is crisp with amazing depth and occasional saturation, though the film mostly takes place in the dark without much variation in the color palette. The outdoor material in the woods, and especially the moments that open and close the film, are the most hue-driven images. The HDR aggressively boosts the contrast, especially in comparison to the accompanying Blu-ray. I’ve seen some comments elsewhere that this release is loaded with encoding issues, and I could find none. Compression is absolutely solid and gives the film plenty of room to breathe, making for a near perfectly-rendered presentation.
Audio is included in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. As the film is mostly driven by silence with occasional bursts of sound effects and score, the 5.1 is not necessarily meant to wow you in terms of dynamics. There’s occasional steering, such as cars passing by, but it’s mostly a quiet, dialogue-driven film. However, when it does get explosive, it’s sonically-powerful. An object-based mix would improve it some, particularly to give it some added height, but the 5.1 is nonetheless a highly satisfying surround experience. Additionally, there’s an English Audio Descriptive option, as well as subtitles in French and Spanish.
Decal Releasing’s 2-Disc 4K Ultra HD release of Hokum sits in a black Amaray case alongside a 1080p Blu-ray with a standard slipcover. Just a heads up that my copy came with a heavy residue on the inside of the case and on the back of each disc, which required a quick cleaning. Be aware if you’re thinking about making a purchase. The following extras are included on both discs in HD:
- Audio Commentary by Damian McCarthy
- The Making of Hokum (15:47)
- Jack the Donkey, A Family Favorite (2:02)
- Teaser (:42)
- Theatrical Trailer (1:54)
The audio commentary features director Damian McCarthy and it’s a good one at that as he’s able to pull an enormous amount of information about the film, informing us about its making and its structure, while also dipping into some behind-the-scenes stories. He seems to have come locked and loaded as he hardly slows down, never really going quiet or dipping out. It’s an excellent track. The Making of Hokum is also a highly informative yet all too brief look at the making of the film, featuring interviews with Damian McCarthy, producers Steven Schneider and Derek Dauchy, executive producer Rami Yasin, director of photography Colm Hogan, production designer Til Frohlich, makeup designer Niamh O’Loan, costume designer Lara Campbell, hair designer Jennie Readman, actors Adam Scott, Sioux C, Florence Ordesh, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, and Austin Amelio. Everyone speaks about the strengths of the script, shooting in the West Cork region of Ireland, and working with McCarty, while showcasing various bits of behind-the-scenes footage. Jack the Donkey, A Family Favorite is the uncut version of the children’s television show segment as seen in the film in crystal clear quality, with a bit of outtake footage at the beginning and tail end. Last are the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers. It’s also worth noting that the Blu-ray opens with a trailer for Leviticus.
Hokum deserves a much bigger audience, one that appreciates an old-fashioned, slow burn horror film with a strong emotional core that informs it. Avoid the trailers and just watch it, and this 4K release is the perfect place to do just that. Highly recommended.
- Tim Salmons
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