The underlying mystery is compelling, and the way that the story unfolds is consistently engaging. However, the most important aspect of a horror movie is going to be its scares, and "Hokum" delivers.

Hokum does exactly what it intends to do, stirring up a suffocating miasma of terror and nerves.

The story sometimes wavers between the hard-to-follow and the nonsensical. But it is never less than creepy, and dread (the most underrated ingredient in horror) suffuses the film.

Its strength comes not from innovation but from a charming set of distinctive characters and a keen understanding of what makes a scary moment work.