Directed by: Damian McCarthy
Written by: Damian McCarthy
Starring: Adam Scott
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35628972/
In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss Hokum (2026), a slow-burn Irish folk horror film from Damian McCarthy centered on a cynical horror writer who travels to a haunted inn to scatter his parents' ashes—only to uncover hidden violence, buried grief, and a terrifying supernatural presence lurking within the hotel.
The discussion explores the film's atmospheric craftsmanship, old-school suspense techniques, creature design, and overwhelming sense of dread. Along the way, the hosts compare Hokum to films like The Shining, Hereditary, The Witch, and Barbarian, while debating whether the film's emotional revelations are genuinely effective or too indebted to familiar Stephen King-style trauma storytelling.
Hokum explores the relationship between hidden spaces and hidden emotional wounds. The film presents grief as something buried, locked away, and left unresolved until it begins to poison both individuals and communities.
Through the haunted architecture of the inn and Om's suppressed guilt surrounding his parents, the film suggests that what we refuse to confront eventually manifests externally—whether psychologically, socially, or supernaturally.
| Time | Segment |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Intro & setup |
| 00:35 | Film premise + synopsis |
| 01:20 | Damian McCarthy discussion |
| 04:10 | Adam Scott performance discussion |
| 10:15 | Atmosphere & cinematography |
| 14:20 | Use of space, darkness, and suspense |
| 17:30 | Sound design analysis |
| 19:40 | Creature design discussion |
| 22:10 | Stephen King influences |
| 26:00 | Michael's criticism of exposition |
| 30:00 | "Old-school suspense" discussion |
| 34:10 | Dave's review (★★★★☆) |
| 39:00 | Michael's review (★★★½☆) |
| 41:30 | ⚠️ Spoiler section begins |
| 42:00 | The witch interpretation debate |
| 45:10 | Om's grief and trauma reveal |
| 49:20 | The hidden room & Fiona mystery |
| 53:00 | The hotel as metaphorical space |
| 56:15 | Discussion of suicide & repression |
| 01:00:40 | Theme breakdown: hidden truths |
| 01:05:00 | Final interpretation debate |
| 01:08:30 | Closing thoughts |
The Shining
Hereditary
The Witch
Barbarian
Heretic
The Monkey
Men
Caveat
Oddity
Stephen King
Alfred Hitchcock
Ari Aster
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