When reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past. Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, HOKUM is a supernatural horror that blends atmospheric dread, psychological tension, and moments of dark humor—delivering scares that had test audiences both screaming and laughing.
In an exclusive interview with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen, McCarthy and Scott open up about the joy of making the film, the beauty of shooting in Ireland, and the rewarding payoff of watching audiences connect with the story.
“It was a blast,” Scott says of the production. “First of all, it was just incredible being in Ireland for a couple of months in West Cork and Skibbereen, which is just one of the most beautiful places on earth. But yeah, getting to go to work every day on this soundstage, on this beautiful set of this honeymoon suite and just getting to chip away at this awesome script, just shooting these fun sequences.”
McCarthy, who reunited with much of the crew from his previous films and assembled a strong Irish supporting cast, echoes the enthusiasm. “I got to work with a lot of my, a lot of the same crew from my previous film again and had a wonderful Irish cast supporting Adam. And then to have Adam there was a fan for years—very exciting. And then it was just a great experience, really, really cherished it.”
Both men highlight how the on-set energy translated into something special on screen. Scott recalls his first viewing at South by Southwest: “I’ve seen it a couple of times now… it was very rewarding when you make a horror film and you sit there with an audience and they’re screaming and laughing and you know that they like the characters and they’re engaged. Yeah, it’s the best feeling.”
McCarthy agrees that the bigger picture keeps everyone motivated through the intense scenes. “I think that’s it. It’s just about taking it step by step and just trying to keep your eye on that bigger picture of what it’s all going to be when it’s together… I’m very proud of the film, I love it. I think it’s definitely the best thing I’ve made.”
When asked what advice they’d give aspiring filmmakers hoping to follow in their footsteps, both emphasized persistence, collaboration, and the power of modern tools. McCarthy, who grew up in southwest Ireland far from any film industry, says: “Just write every day. Make short films. Everything you shoot, you know, you’re learning so much… it helps to be nice to people and to pick people’s brains and work with them and take their ideas on board.”
Scott adds a practical, optimistic note: “Everybody has a really good camera in their pocket at all times now… Just make little shorts. Maybe you can make a feature if you want. It’s all within your grasp.”
With its mix of location magic, meticulous craft, and genuine creative camaraderie, HOKUM stands as a testament to why horror remains one of cinema’s most thrilling genres to make—and to watch. As McCarthy and Scott prepare to share their creation with the world, one thing is clear: the honeymoon suite may be cursed, but the experience of bringing it to life was pure joy.
Thank you to Damian McCarthy and Adam Scott for the conversation—and for giving us one hell of a scare.
