Neon has released the first teaser trailer for its "unique" Ireland-set horror film Hokum. Starring Severance actor Adam Scott, the newly released trailer is one of the scariest we've seen in 2025.
From director Damian McCarthy, who helmed the near-perfect 2024 film Oddity, the upcoming film stars Scott as a novelist who heads to a remote inn where he is consumed by thoughts of the witchy tale told to him by locals.
The synopsis reads: "When reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (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."
Joining Scott on the cast are Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Will O’Connell, Michael Patric, Brendan Conroy, Siox C, Austin Amelio, and Ezra Carlisle.
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Per the trailer, Scott's character is sleeping at the inn when a terrifying noseless creature sporting long ears and bulging eyes appears at the end of the bed.
"Long, long ago. Deep in the woods, there lived a witch," a voiceover says as a series of disturbing images flash up on the screen.
As the trailer draws to a close, it teases viewers to "check in" while revealing the film's release date. Set for release in the US on 1 May, 2026, the film's UK release has yet to be confirmed.
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Spooky Pictures, the production company behind Barbarian, is on board to produce the project, with co-founder Steven Schneider saying: "With Damian McCarthy’s fresh and unique approach behind the camera and the amazing Adam Scott bringing his talent to the lead role, Hokum is shaping up to be something truly special."
Executive producer Ben Ross said of the movie: "With Adam’s talent and charisma and Damian’s unique direction, this is another opportunity for us to push boundaries in the horror genre and continue to make our mark in the international market."
Hokum is released in the US on 1 May, 2026, the film's UK release has yet to be confirmed.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
