If you’re into edge-of-your-seat horror, this one’s for your watchlist. HOKUM, the latest international production from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, is landing in cinemas across the UAE and wider MENA region on 7 May, and it’s already building serious buzz.
Released in the region by Front Row Filmed Entertainment which has acquired all MENA rights to HOKUM from NEON, the film follows a wider global theatrical rollout earlier this month where it has already ranked among the top five films at the U.S. box office. In other words: this isn’t just a regional release, it’s a worldwide moment.
Directed by horror talent Damian McCarthy, HOKUM premiered at South by Southwest Film & TV Festival to strong reviews, currently sitting at an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’ve seen his previous films (Oddity and Caveat), you’ll know he has a knack for slow-burn tension and seriously unsettling storytelling.
Leading the cast is Adam Scott (Severance, Big Little Lies, Parks and Recreation), joined by a strong ensemble including Peter Coonan, Austin Amelio, and David Wilmot. The story follows a writer who escapes to a remote coastal hotel to scatter his parents’ ashes only to get pulled into a disturbing mystery involving a locked room, a disappearance and something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.
While the story travels internationally, part of HOKUM was filmed right here in the UAE. Scenes shot in the Remah Desert in Al Ain bring a striking local backdrop to the film, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a destination for major global productions.
The film is produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the studio being Emirati blockbuster Al Kameen, alongside Spooky Pictures, the same partnership behind Emirati film Hoba, Watcher and the breakout hit Late Night with the Devil. Their latest slate continues to push bold, genre-driven storytelling onto the global stage, with HOKUM as the next big release.
Whether you’re a horror fan or just looking for something different to watch this month, this is one to catch on the big screen.
