The success of horror lies in its ability to change form depending on the story. Certain films focus on scares, others let terror sit beneath the narrative, and some try to deliver frightening scenes, developed characters and deep mythology all at once. Unfortunately, too many ingredients often spoil the meal. Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum is a horror film with all the elements of a great movie. But instead of focusing on its simple throughline, it becomes bogged down by side characters and plot progression. Despite some good scares, this is an example of a masterful filmmaker led astray.

Visiting Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes, a novelist soon finds himself haunted by the entities of an old hotel. Adam Scott plays Ohm Bauman, the aforementioned author. He is joined by a supporting cast that includes Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, and Florence Ordesh.

Damian McCarthy is a great director handicapped by his limitations as a writer. The same issues that are present in his last feature, Oddity, rear their head in Hokum. When it comes to making good use of environments in pursuit of quality scares, McCarthy is unmatched. Hokum has quite a few spine-chilling moments, and it is here that the film is at its best. But instead of keeping a steady course, the narrative too often sways towards side-plots and characters with little intrigue.

Adam Scott is solid in his role, and his motivations are clearly defined. As such, his character should have embarked on a story with fewer moving parts. The scenes centred on Scott are startling at their best but frustrating at their worst when the film decides to switch to other people, diluting tension from the frightening scenario at play. Despite being scary at points, this movie could have been truly terrifying with a more focused script and fewer characters.

The film’s flaws can be watered down to one thing: a plot that is too complex for its own good. An author with past trauma enters a haunted hotel; a setup like this is as classic as they come. The most important parts of this synopsis do carry through in Hokum, but they share the screen with pacing issues, bland side-characters, and many scenes that help shape mythology but go on for far too long.

Damian McCarthy is a director capable of a masterpiece. He has every ability to become a defining filmmaker in the modern horror space. One can hope that his next feature adopts another writer if he wishes to create a more well-rounded final product.