Our take
Hokum sends abrasive novelist Ohm Bauman to a remote Irish hotel to scatter his parents' ashes, then traps him in witch legends, missing-person dread, and visions tied to a childhood tragedy. The scares lean on atmosphere and jump shocks more than splatter, but the emotional weight is heavy: a child accidentally shoots a parent, a bartender vanishes, someone attempts suicide, and characters drink heavily including mushroom-spiked milk. Rated R for disturbing content and language, it is a smart, slow-burn horror best for older teens who can handle trauma themes, not younger viewers expecting a fun Halloween romp
Uplifting themes
Fiona's kindness and a late redemption arc offer hope amid guilt and death Ohm starts cruel and self-destructive; Fiona shows more compassion
Story (may spoil tone)
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.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Murder, a crossbow kill, and a child's accidental shooting appear, but…
Murder, a crossbow kill, and a child's accidental shooting appear, but reviewers say gore stays restrained
Language Regular R-rated profanity from a bitter protagonist, including F-words…
Regular R-rated profanity from a bitter protagonist, including F-words and harsh insults
Sex / nudity Dialogue about an affair and pregnancy, no explicit sexual scenes
Dialogue about an affair and pregnancy, no explicit sexual scenes
Drugs / alcohol Heavy whiskey drinking and psychedelic mushroom milk blur reality durin…
Heavy whiskey drinking and psychedelic mushroom milk blur reality during hauntings
Frightening Witch lore, decayed corpses, jump scares, burning building, and sustain…
Witch lore, decayed corpses, jump scares, burning building, and sustained folk-horror dread
Self-harm / suicide Ohm attempts to hang himself; suicide references continue through the m…
Ohm attempts to hang himself; suicide references continue through the mystery
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse A child accidentally shoots a parent, and witch stories threaten kids a…
A child accidentally shoots a parent, and witch stories threaten kids at the hotel
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons Some blood and a gray corpse, but coverage emphasizes chills over splat…
Some blood and a gray corpse, but coverage emphasizes chills over splatter
Dangerous behaviour Psychedelic mushroom drinks and reckless drinking appear in a horror co…
Psychedelic mushroom drinks and reckless drinking appear in a horror context
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Guilt, trauma, alcoholism, and an attempted suicide drive the haunted-h…
Guilt, trauma, alcoholism, and an attempted suicide drive the haunted-hotel story
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Spreading parents' ashes, a missing bartender, and childhood loss ancho…
Spreading parents' ashes, a missing bartender, and childhood loss anchor the horror
Talk after watching
- Ohm treats people badly at first — does he earn sympathy by the end, and what would real redemption look like?
- The film mixes Irish witch folklore with guilt and grief. How can scary stories help us face the past?