Neon is preparing to unleash a new supernatural tale from writer and director Damian McCarthy. His latest horror feature titled Hokum arrives in theaters on May 1, 2026. The film marks McCarthy’s return to chilling stories set in remote corners where superstition and fear never quite stay buried.
A Return to Atmospheric Terror
The studio has shared a new look at Adam Scott who steps into the lead role. Scott built his reputation with standout roles in Severance and the festive nightmare Krampus. In Hokum he plays a novelist who travels to a secluded inn in Ireland to scatter his parents ashes. What begins as a somber personal journey quickly sharpens into a descent into local legend. The inn carries a reputation that locals speak of in hushed tones. Rumor paints the grounds as a place still stalked by the lingering presence of a witch.
Scott is joined by Peter Coonan from The Alienist Angel of Darkness along with David Wilmot from Station Eleven. Their roles are still under wraps although both actors have proven they excel in stories where tension simmers just beneath the surface.
The Team Behind the Fear
Hokum brings together an impressive collection of producers across several companies. Spooky Pictures brings Roy Lee who recently produced Weapons along with Steven Schneider who helped shape Insidious. They are joined by Derek Dauchy of Image Nation known for Late Night with the Devil as well as Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde, and Mairtin de Barra from Tailored Film.
The executive producer list is stacked. Ben Ross and Rami Yasin both returned from Late Night with the Devil while Dan Kagan arrives fresh from Longlegs. Andrew Childs who worked on The Long Walk rounds out the team. This mix of genre veterans signals that McCarthy is steering a project that will lean hard into mood and slow burning dread. Cweature Features is also a producer on the film.
Setting the Stage for Something Wicked
Earlier statements from the production team have hinted at the creative confidence behind the film. Steven Schneider praised McCarthy’s distinct vision and noted that Scott brings a grounded emotional weight to the story. According to Schneider this combination is shaping Hokum into a standout release for audiences who crave horror with personality rather than cheap tricks.
Hokum opens this coming May. The premise is simple: a lonely inn, old folklore, and a visitor who arrives with good intentions but no clue what waits for him. Sometimes simplicity is the sharpest knife. If McCarthy follows his usual instincts viewers should expect a story that refuses to hold their hand.
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