A new R-Rated movie with Severance star Adam Scott has garnered amazing reviews, leading to a high score on the review-aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes. Hokum is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Damian McCarthy (Oddity). The cast includes Scott as Ohm Bauman, Peter Coonan, and David Wilmot. The movie had its world premiere at this year’s SXSW on March 14, 2026. It will debut in US theaters on May 1, 2026.

What critics are saying about Hokum in reviews

Hokum has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from professional critics. Hoai-Tran Bui of Inverse praised the feature. “What’s most remarkable about Hokum is that it’s not doing anything especially novel or innovative within the confines of the genre; instead, it’s simply a showcase for how a well-crafted, rock-solid ghost movie can still petrify you beyond belief,” the critic wrote.

Collider’s Ross Bonaime observed, “Hokum doesn’t overcomplicate itself, but rather, it sticks to the classics: strange figures moving in the dark, claustrophobic scenarios, and the old trusty jump scare. Hokum is a reminder of why these horror tropes have lasted and been effective for decades.”

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney accepted that Hokum is “a little low on scares,” before adding that it “is pacey and involving enough to keep genre fiends watching once it hits streaming.”

Further, Kevin L. Lee of Film Inquiry applauded Hokum’s “old-fashioned approach to ghost stories.” Lee added, “The supernatural threat looms not just as an evil force that kills, but also like a traumatic memory that cannot be shaken… Hokum builds on its traditional tropes because it knows what can truly haunt a person.”

Hokum gets an incredible score on Rotten Tomatoes

Hokum currently has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 24 reviews. This will most likely change as it nears its May 1 US release date. However, it’s safe to speculate that the movie will remain “certified fresh” on the site.