Adam Scott’s Chilling New Movie Brings A Folk Horror Twist To An 82-Year-Old Disney Classic

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A memorable, upsetting experience with Disney as a child sparked the idea for Damian McCarthy’s latest supernatural folk horror project.

In the film Hokum, Adam Scott plays a writer whose emotional journey to Ireland takes a dark turn when strange and frightening events begin to happen at his hotel. The movie is written and directed by McCarthy, who previously gained recognition for the 2024 horror film Oddity. Hokum features a particularly bizarre character named Jack the Jackass, played by Will O’Connell, who also plays the role of Alby, the hotel bellhop.

While speaking with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant, Jenna McCarthy shared the origin of the unsettling Jack the Jackass character from Hokum. She explained that the character’s design was inspired by the transformation scene in Disney’s Pinocchio, specifically the moment when Pinocchio begins to turn into a donkey. McCarthy admitted this scene frightened her as a child, and she was particularly interested in the ‘halfway transformed’ stage.

When asked about confronting the intimidating character of Jack the Jackass, actor Scott from Hokum said he was glad he didn’t have to share scenes with Will O’Connell while O’Connell was in full character. He did, however, get to work with O’Connell when he played a bellboy, and praised his talent. Scott described watching O’Connell transform into Jack as frightening, and was amazed that the same actor could play both roles, calling O’Connell “incredible.”

McCarthy described how Will O’Connell took on the roles of both the shy Alby and the eccentric Jack. He explained that O’Connell naturally has a lot of energy, but Alby needed to be portrayed as someone who holds back. McCarthy focused on helping O’Connell channel that energy inward, and he was impressed with how well O’Connell understood and delivered the performance. McCarthy knew O’Connell had the energy within him to play both roles effectively.

Recognizing Will O’Connell’s abundant energy, director Jon McCarthy gave him another part where he could truly let loose. McCarthy explained, “I thought, Jack is so energetic and unpredictable… if Will wanted to take on that role too, he could really showcase that side of his personality, and it would be fantastic.”

McCarthy explained how the characters’ connections are revealed through Scott, a well-known author who is harsh to Alby, an up-and-coming writer. Later, Scott himself faces hardship, partly due to Jack the Jackass. McCarthy noted that their initial meeting is quite unpleasant, and he wanted Alby to be involved in Scott’s later punishment as a form of payback.

The strong performances by Scott, playing a troubled writer, and O’Connell, who took on two distinct roles, were key to the positive reception of Hokum at SXSW. The film even received a glowing review from ScreenRant.

The film’s honest emotions draw you into the story, while a developing backstory and surprising twists steadily build suspense. “Hokum” isn’t simply a repeat of familiar ideas; it’s a polished and well-crafted film that successfully blends realism with genuine horror, knowing when to hold back and when to go all-in.

Hokum and its Disney-inspired horror monster were released in theaters on May 1.

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2026-05-02 18:50