Hokum is a Modern Folk Horror Masterpiece
I finally got to watch Hokum last night and what an exceptional, well written piece of horror! If the idea of a movie about a haunted hotel in Ireland sounds even remotely interesting, watch this now before the plot get spoiled! As an avid enjoyer of haunted location movies, especially hotels, this movie exceeded and subverted my expectations while still managing to be legitimately unsettling. Damian McCarthy has managed to not only deliver a third modern horror masterpiece in a row, but maybe even improved on his formula.
The writing in Hokum is layered and nuanced feeling somehow grounded and calculated while also entirely unpredictable. The setting, the characters, and visual design all fit together in a very natural, grounded way that leave the impression that everything that is shown is somehow possible and in no way ridiculous. The acting and character designs are top notch. Adam Scott's performance is phenomenal. He plays a very convincing pissed off, jaded American that really wants nothing to do with any of this shit and this bit is unexpectedly well done and humorous from both the American and Irish perspective. Neat cultural and folklore references abound which further lends depth and realness to the film. The folks working the hotel are equally well developed and if I didn't think elaborating might spoil stuff I'd explain, but I think half of the fun of the movie is meeting the characters and not knowing what to expect of them.
The visual design is immaculate. The sets are beautiful and unsettling and feel tangible and lived in. The hotel feels like a real place that exists somewhere in an Irish countryside. The collection of creepy things that adorn every wall and shelf and the shots that highlight these things build tension and atmosphere constantly. This slow burning dread is accompanied by some exceptionally well timed and visually arresting jump scares, which never feel cheap. The movie is dark, but at no point feels drab or visually unappealing, its bursting with stuff to look at, so much so it would probably take multiple viewings to get all the visual story telling being presented. It's a literal feast for the eyes from the opening moments to the last shots and I love watching how McCarthy's films are becoming progressively more hypnotic and surreal in the Hitchcock sort of way.
Is it scary? Hell yes. If you've seen any of McCarthy's other movies you know what you're getting into, it's absolutely as good as the others. If you haven't, expect lots of atmosphere building into lots of awesome later.
Hokum is a great blend of the things I enjoy about slow burns and elevated horror while keeping those ideas in a format that is still easy and readily enjoyable to sit through. This film is the rare horror feature with a satisfying conclusion that maintains its creep factor despite that fact. Damian McCarthy has solidified his place as one of the best horror directors of our time and I personally cannot wait to see what he has in store for us next.