‘Hokum’ – So Scary You Can’t Keep Quiet in a Theater

Damien McCarthy’s “Hokum” begins with an author named Bauman (Adam Scott) putting the finishing touch on his novel, a nihilistic, Cormac McCarthy-like epic set in the desert, We see the imagery Bauman is shaping, of a father and son wandering through sun-baked dunes, searching for a way out, failing to find it and facing their mortality. This opener is jarring, as it made me wonder, “Am I even watching the right movie?” Actually, this thematic prologue is key to what follows and not just because of what Bauman’s story is about – the author is miserable, viciously sarcastic and, like the characters he’s created, about to give up. Bauman flies to Ireland and checks into the Bilberry Woods Hotel, with his visit intended to be personal and private. The staff at the hotel are chatty and helpfu