ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, associate professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast.
In the latest episode, the hosts discuss Damien McCarthy’s 2026 film “Hokum,” following mystery writer Ohm Baumann (Adam Scott) to Ireland’s Bilberry Inn over Halloween after an apparition leads him to his parents’ ashes. As Baumann investigates bartender Fiona’s disappearance by breaking into the locked honeymoon suite with local outsider Gerry, he’s drawn into witch lore, dreams and a dumbwaiter that links the suite to a sinister basement.
The hosts argue the “witch” functions more as atmosphere and a distraction from human evils, focusing on gun violence shaping Ohm’s despair and on spiked drinks, sexual violence, cover-ups and control of women. Onishi and Stoyanoff also highlight the movie’s 'whodunit' structure, quirky characters and moments of silliness as sources of joy.
Full episodes of "Horror Joy" can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.