I'm excited for Daily Dead readers to start seeing Hokum in theaters. This film was a huge crowd-pleaser at The Overlook Film Festival, and, if you loved Oddity, you're going to really enjoy Damian McCarthy's haunted hotel story. I recently had a chance to speak with McCarthy for a discussion about developing the story, the film's themes, building his haunted hotel, and working with Adam Scott.
"When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past."
Spoiler Warning: Hokum's themes and character arcs are discussed at a high level, so see the movie first if you'd rather be 100% spoiler-free.
Written and Directed by Damian McCarthy and Starring Adam Scott. In theaters on May 1st, 2026
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
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