HOKUM is Not Hokum

HOKUM (4K + Blu-ray)

2026 / 107 min

NEON

Review by Mr. Bonnie and Princess Pepper (transcribed by D.M. Anderson)🙀

After a dinner of Fancy Feast and a quick trip to the litter box, Princess Pepper and Mr. Bonnie take their usual spots on the sofa to review the new 4K/Blu-ray release of the horror hit, Hokum. 

PRINCESS PEPPER (rolls eyes): Oh…joy. Yet another haunted house movie. 

MR. BONNIE (reading the synopsis): Actually, it’s a haunted hotel this time.

PRINCESS PEPPER: You mean like The Shining, 1408 and God knows how many others? Didn’t these things stop being scary a long time ago?

MR. BONNIE: It depends on who's behind the camera, doesn’t it? This one is written and directed by Damian McCarthy, who did Oddity. That one was pretty good.

PRINCESS PEPPER (shrugs): It was okay…nothing to meow home about. Okay, let’s fire it up. Here’s hoping Hokum isn’t a bunch of hokum…

Mr. Bonnie hits play, The film opens with alcoholic writer Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) struggling to finish his latest novel. He also appears to be haunted by a mysterious dark figure lurking nearby. Then after spotting the urns of his parents, he decides to fly to Ireland to the rustic old inn where they had their honeymoon, planning to spread their ashes in the nearby forest.

PRINCESS PEPPER: Okay, I’ll concede I’m a bit intrigued. I like how the movie opens with a scene from the book Ohm’s trying to finish. Kinda brutal…with the book's character getting ready to kill a kid.

MR. BONNIE: Maybe…it’s not clear if that conquistador actually went through with it. 

PRINCESS PEPPER: I like ambiguity in a horror movie, rather than being spoonfed everything. Keeps things interesting. I wonder what this whole scene has to do with Ohm heading to Ireland.

MR. BONNIE: Maybe it’s to establish that Ohm is haunted, as well. Perhaps by something from his past.

PRINCESS PEPPER: Well, it would certainly explain why he’s a surly, unlikeable douchebag, treating the innkeepers like shit. And they certainly picked the right actor. Adam Scott has always been good at playing douchebags. 

During his first night at the Bilberry Woods Hotel, Ohm hears stories from the staff, including friendly bartender Fiona (Florence Odesh), that the honeymoon suite is haunted, which is why nobody’s allowed to enter. Naturally, Ohm is skeptical.

PRINCESS PEPPER: But of course it is…and of course he is.

MR. BONNIE (hissing): Quiet, you!

That night, Ohm tries to hang himself, but is saved by Fiona. After his recovery in the hospital, he returns to the inn as it’s ready to close for the season, only to learn that Fiona has since gone missing. Everyone, including the police, suspect a homeless hermit named Jerry (David Wilmot) is behind her disappearance. Ohm becomes somewhat obsessed with finding out what happened to Fiona, going so far as to seek out Jerry, who lives in a van in the woods. Jerry suspects Fiona is still in the hotel…more specifically, the honeymoon suite. Once the hotel is empty, the two venture inside to look for her. However, Jerry is captured by Fergal the groundkeeper, who plans to haul the man to jail. Ohm is now alone in the hotel.

PRINCESS PEPPER: This is pretty interesting so far…and the hotel setting is actually kinda creepy.

MR. BONNIE: I’m even starting to like Ohm a little bit. He seems genuinely concerned about Fiona.

PRINCESS PEPPER: And lemme guess…he’s gonna go up to the honeymoon suite by himself. 

MR. BONNIE: Of course he is. Otherwise the movie would be over.

Ohm was certain he booked a bigger room.

Ohm does indeed make his way to the honeymoon suite, which has become dusty and dilapidated from years of neglect. He soon falls asleep, at which time the narrative serves up a look at Ohm’s childhood trauma through a dream sequence. Later, he’s startled by the arrival of the desk clerk, Mal (Peter Coonan). When Ohm discovers Fiona’s dead body stuffed into a dumbwaiter, Mal locks him in the room. It’s at this point that Ohm becomes increasingly terrorized by a horrifying entity established as a witch, who appears aware of Ohm’s past. This comprises the bulk of the film’s middle act.

PRINCESS PEPPER: I’m getting definite 1408 vibes here, but in a good, creepy way. 

MR. BONNIE (chuckles): Imagine if Samuel L. Jackson was in this one, too. 

PRINCESS PEPPER: And imagine him with an Irish accent…Aye be sick ‘o these mootherfookin’ ghoosts en this mootherfookin’ rewm!

MR. BONNIE: Those revelations about Ohm’s past…no wonder he’s so screwed up. As for the rabbit man on the TV…he kinda freaks me out.

PRINCESS PEPPER: I think he’s a donkey man.

MR. BONNIE: Either way, the guy is nightmare fuel.

PRINCESS PEPPER: I, for one, was surprised by Mal. What a bastard! Why the hell would he do that?

The conflict involving Ohm, Jerry (who managed to escape and return), Mal and the witch eventually culminates in a chilling, tension-filled climax. In the interest of avoiding spoilers and preserving certain plot revelations, some of Pepper and Mr. Bonnie’s comments have been redacted.

PRINCESS PEPPER: Man, I can believe Mal murdered Fiona just because she got pregnant. Still, it makes him one hell of a hateful villain. He sure got what was coming to him.

MR. BONNIE: Yeah, and Ohm’s character arc was definitely engaging. You don’t often see that in a horror movie. I also appreciate how McCarthy uses atmosphere and a deliberate pace to slowly build dread, rather than bombard you with cheap jump scares.

PRINCESS PEPPER: Now that I think about it, a lot of the narrative was kind of unpredictable, especially the part where I don’t know what to write here. Then there’s that one shocking reveal that do be go cke cjfrfc. I didn’t see that coming. And what Ohm is forced to endure, like this and that and this and that, makes the denouement especially iesonant. By the end, he’s a changed man in the djsdjdj.

MR. BONNIE: Yeah, it’s a great ending that gives the prologue context in a clever, almost poetic way, which certainly reflects the protagonists emotional growth.

The end credits roll…

PRINCESS PEPPER: I was skeptical at first, but Hokum is a pretty damn good horror movie, maybe even better that 1408. 

MR. BONNIE: Like I said before, in the right hands, even the hoary ol’ trapped-in-a-haunted house theme still has some life in it. 

PRINCESS PEPPER: Haunted hotel, Bonnie. Haunted hotel.

MR. BONNIE: Right. Now let’s take a look at those bonus features. I’m dying to learn more about Jack the Donkey. (see below)

PRINCESS PEPPER: You go ahead, Bonnie. I’m still trying to unsee that guy.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

FEATURETTES - The Making of Hokum features cast/crew interviews and behind the scenes footage; Jack the Donkey, A Family Favorite is raw footage of the film’s freakiest character  (who caused a few sleepless nights for Princess Pepper).

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By writer-director Damian McCarthy.

TRAILERS

THE POOP SCOOP: Super Secret Scary Kibbles!

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

EVIL DEAD BURN on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 18 from Warner Bros. EVIL DEAD BURN unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem. After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites—turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell—she comes to discover that the vows she took in life live on… even in death. EVIL DEAD BURN stars Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and Maude Davey. The film is directed by Sébastien Vaniček and written by Sébastien Vaniček & Florent Bernard. It is produced by Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. The executive producers are Bruce Campbell, Romel Adam, Sarah Spurway, Jose Cañas and Lee Cronin.

SUPERGIRL on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 8 from Warner Bros. In its inaugural flight into the new DC Cinematic Universe, “Supergirl” reveals the origin of the interplanetary nomad Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, cousin of Kal-El, better known as Superman. Headstrong, worldly-wise, and often reckless, Supergirl exudes a brand of heroism all her own—truthful, relatable, and always on her own terms. But when an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion. Together they undertake an epic, interstellar journey, struggling to balance one’s need for vengeance with the pursuit of justice—and to save the life of Kara’s best friend, her dog Krypto. Ultimately Supergirl will prove that doing good can be tough… and it doesn’t always have to be nice. 

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD October 20 from Alliance Entertainment. Amazon MGM Studios and Alliance Home Entertainment announce the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD release of the epic adventure that’s fun for the whole family, Masters Of The Universe, starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicolas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba) and embrace his true destiny as He-Man – the most powerful man in the universe.

Nominated for Multiple Oscars, THE SECRET AGENT Comes to 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 22 from Criterion Collection. With an electrifying blend of kinetic punch and elegiac historical sweep, Kleber Mendonça Filho connects life under Brazil’s twentieth-century military dictatorship to the living present, delivering a kaleidoscopic period thriller pulsing with resonance. In 1977, under the alias Marcelo, a man (Wagner Moura) arrives in the city of Recife to try to make a fresh start with his young son. However, the threat of violence immediately encroaches, while around him swirl corrupt cops, grimy hit men, haunted exiles, and a wild urban legend that ignites a public frenzy. Continually spinning off its temporal and narrative axes, The Secret Agent unfurls an epic canvas teeming with life and love for those who refuse to submit to systems of oppression. 

GONE WITH THE WIND in 4K and Digital November 3 from Warner Bros. The film quickly became an “Instant Classic” when it was first released over eighty-five years ago and now returns newly remastered with extraordinary picture and sound and includes new bonus content. 

Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN on 4K and Blu-ray October 27 from Criterion Collection. A decades-in-the-making triumph of darkly ravishing visual invention and operatic storytelling, Frankenstein is a deeply personal statement from a director who has long been drawn to the realm where men and monsters merge.  

STAR TREK: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES 60th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD September 8 from Paramount. Blending action, philosophy, and visionary storytelling, the series remains one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. .

POWER BALLAD on Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital) August 25 from Lionsgate. From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), POWER BALLAD is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. 

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES on Blu-ray and DVD August 25 from Alliance Entertainment. The film holds a staggering 95% ‘Certified Fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences agreeing that The Sheep Detectives is a film the whole family will be coming back to for years to come. 

The Original PRACTICAL MAGIC on 4K August 25 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will be available ahead of the theatrical release of the highly anticipated sequel Practical Magic 2 on September 11. 

TROY Limited Edition on 4K and Blu-ray 8/18. Features brand new 4K remasters of both the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, hours of special features, and newly commissioned extras. A Blu-ray edition release will also be available. 

BARBARIAN Coming to 4K + Blu-ray August 11 from 20th Century Studios.  Released in September, 2022, shocking and captivating audiences with its bizarre twists, violence, carnage, and delightfully subversive sense of humor. "Barbarian," which stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long and is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Weapons). 

FORBIDDEN PLANET Limited Edition on 4K September 28 from Arrow Video. For the very first time, Forbidden Planet is presented in its original Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.55:1 with its theatrical "Perspecta" stereo soundtrack in an eye-popping brand new 4K restoration. 

PROJECT HAIL MARY on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD August 11 from Alliance Entertainment. Based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, screenwriter Drew Goddard adapted Project Hail Mary for the screen, and it was brought to life by directors Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray releases of Project Hail Mary include out of this world bonus content.

THE COMPLETE KUBRICK Coming to 4K + Blu-ray October 20 from Criterion Collection. Collected here for the first time are Kubrick’s thirteen features and three shorts, all restored in 4K, over twenty-five hours of interviews, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes materials; and deluxe packaging.

MARS ATTACKS! on 4K August 11 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring the behind-the-scenes filmmakers reflecting on the making of Mars Attacks! 30 years later.

Catnip Reviews: RELENTLESS, I WAS A TEENAGE SEX PISTOL and NCIS: TONY & ZIVA

Snack-sized opinions from the frisky felines at Free Kittens…

I WAS A TEENAGE SEX PISTOL (Blu-ray) - You’d be hard pressed to name another artist or band who became legendary with one album…and one album only. Such is the legacy of the Sex Pistols, four young British blokes of marginal musical ability who captured lightning in a bottle - as well as the pulse of disenfranchised youth - with a bit of help from opportunistic manager Malcom McLaren. Through interviews, archival footage and stills from the era, this revealing documentary tells the band’s story (and the enormous controversy that followed wherever they went) from the perspective of one of its founding members, bassist Glen Matlock. Additionally, former bandmates Steve Jones and Paul Cook are on-hand to discuss the band’s quick rise and fall (mostly corroborating Matlock’s recollections), while singer John Lydon is conspicuously absent. Other interviewees include Blondie, Billy Idol, Tracii Guns, The Faces’ Kenney Jones and The Damned’s Rat Scabies, all of whom convey their appreciation for the Pistols’ musical and cultural impact (well, maybe not Jones so much). The film is also about Matlock himself (based on his own book), and dedicates some time to his life & career after the Sex Pistols (which is a bit less interesting). For anyone who continues to love that one great album, or those simply curious over what the hubbub was about, this documentary is essential viewing…and really entertaining. (2025/102 min/Vantage Media).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

NCIS: TONY & ZIVA, SEASON ONE (DVD) - Sometimes thinking outside the box doesn’t always pay off. Take Tony & Ziva, for instance. As the umpteenth spinoff in the never-ending NCIS franchise, this one takes two popular characters from the original series (played by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo) and reunites them in Paris, along with a kid they had together. But it isn’t business as usual. This season eschews the tried & true episodic format for an ongoing narrative of a mysterious, high-tech thief who’s framed Tony for an Interpol theft. The main story is fairly engaging and its two stars slip comfortably back into their roles, but as someone who never religiously watched the original show, I was less interested in the flashbacks depicting how the couple fell apart. Perhaps many others felt the same, because Tony & Ziva has already been canceled. For those who did appreciate the franchise’s attempt to try something a little different, this 10 episode set comes with a few interesting bonus features.    (2025/437 min/Paramount)

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

RELENTLESS (Blu-ray) - Former Brat Packer Judd Nelson plays Buck Taylor, a sadistic serial killer in this silly concoction from director William Lustig, best known for the gory cult classics, Maniac and Maniac Cop (no relation). But Relentless is no horror film. Instead, it's a crime thriller that features an ambitious rookie detective (Leo Rossi) teaming up with a cynical, seasoned cop (Robert Loggia) to find and stop Buck, who selects his victims at random. There’s a decent story in there somewhere, but it’s largely undermined by a static pace, lapses in logic (such as Buck being able to crash through a skylight without so much as a scratch) and an overwrought performance by Rossi (despite the deceptive billing, he’s the actual star of the film). And maybe it’s because of all the Brat Pack baggage he brings with him, but I simply didn’t buy Nelson as a psychotic killer, though he gives it a good sporting try. Still, Relentless enjoyed a healthy afterlife on home video (spawning three sequels, all starring Rossi), making this a logical choice for inclusion in Alliance Entertainment's ongoing Retro VHS series. (1989/92 min/Alliance Entertainment)

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

Escape to EXIT 8

EXIT 8 (Blu-ray)

2025 / 95 min

NEON

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Exit 8 accomplishes what I didn’t think was possible, which makes it kind of an anomaly (my fiendishly clever nod to the film’s source material).

I’m generally not a big fan of movies based on video games, especially those adapted from games with no actual stories. Most of the time, the end result is an exercise in redundancy and a lose-lose situation. If your story strays too far from the original concept, you alienate the gamers. But if you stay too faithful to the gameplay, you defeat the purpose of making your movie in the first place (save for those who get their jollies watching other people play video games). 

Exit 8 plays very much like the game, confirmed by my far hipper daughters who’ve actually played it, which essentially has an escape room premise: The player is trapped in a subway station, forced to repeatedly walk through the same passageways unless they can spot anomalies (something out-of-place) that weren’t there before, which allows them to move forward to the next identical passageway. Once they reach exit 8, they can escape and win the game (something you couldn’t do back in this Boomer’s day of trying in vain to get the highest Asteroids score). But I probably didn’t need my daughters’ help to determine the film’s video game origins. Repetition, multiple failure and escape make up nearly the entire plot of this one.

Some folks need help counting to 1.

However, director/co-writer Genki Kawamura adds a crucial element that totally justifies its existence as a movie: Creating an engaging protagonist whose personal life (namely his relationship with his estranged, pregnant ex-girlfriend) significantly guides the narrative. From a thematic standpoint, the changes and epiphanies he experiences ultimately become the crux of the entire film. Without revealing too much, the main reason Exit 8 works so well as a movie is because we’re invested in this guy…who’s simply identified as ‘The Lost Man’ (which turns out to be accurate in more ways than one).

At the same time, Exit 8 never forgets it’s based on a horror game, though not of the blood & guts variety. With a stark, mostly white setting that gives off a vibe similar to The Shining, the film is extremely atmospheric, its presentation almost trancelike. The best moments are ambiguous and subtly creepy, such as the repeated appearance of The Walking Man, or the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it advertising signs that appear to track the protagonist as he’s walking. Other characters come and go, but the most significant of them is a young boy who figures prominently in the story’s denouement. 

The repetition threatens to become rote at times, and I can’t help but think someone like Rod Serling probably could’ve summed up the plot, its themes and inevitable twist ending in a concise 30 minutes. But that’s a minor quip, and admittedly, the deliberate pace eventually works in the film’s favor…with a resolution that’s not-only worth waiting for, it’s emotionally affecting. Whether you’ve actually played the game or not, Exit 8 is a rewarding film that almost makes you feel like you’re trying to escape right along with its main character. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

THE MAKING OF EXIT 8 is an excellent hour-long doc, featuring plenty of cast/crew interviews.

Q&A WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR GENKI KAWAMURA - Filmed at the Busan International Film Festival.

TRAILER