Indie horror continues its reign at the box office and beyond, and the latest proof is Hokum, an R-rated gem starring Adam Scott (Severance). After a successful theatrical run, the film has landed on digital platforms and is already climbing the charts on Apple TV, becoming a must-watch for horror fans in June 2026.
Directed by Damian McCarthy (Oddity), Hokum opened in theaters last month to strong reviews, earning an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83% audience rating. It's not a pretentious art-house flick; it's a crowd-pleaser that delivers genuine dread. The film was released for rent and purchase on June 2, and according to FlixPatrol, it's currently the #4 most popular movie on the Apple TV Store in the United States, and sits in the Top 3 in countries like the UAE, Egypt, and Canada. Word of mouth is driving its momentum, and it's expected to keep climbing.
This success mirrors the broader indie horror wave. Films like Obsession and Backrooms have outperformed major blockbusters, with Obsession grossing over 100 times its budget. The genre's winning streak extends to streaming, where Hokum is now a standout. For more on the genre's evolution, check out Four Horror Masterpieces That Forever Changed the Genre.
What Is Hokum About?
The film stars Scott as a bitter American horror novelist who travels to a remote inn in Ireland to scatter his late parents' ashes. When a hotel staff member mysteriously vanishes, he investigates, leading him to the inn's permanently sealed honeymoon suite, rumored to be haunted by a witch. It's a familiar setup—haunted hotel stories have a long lineage, from The Shining to 1408 and even Apple TV+'s Widow's Bay, which Guillermo del Toro hailed as a horror masterpiece.
What sets Hokum apart is Scott's caustic, watchable performance and a rich folk horror atmosphere that leans into its Irish Halloween setting. The film may be light on jump scares, but it compensates with slow-burn tension and genuine dread that lingers after the credits. For fans of the genre, it's an essential watch. If you're into metaphorical horror, you might also enjoy The Best Metaphorical Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked.
Hokum is available now for rent or purchase on the Apple TV Store. As the indie horror boom shows no signs of slowing, this is one title you won't want to miss.
