Hokum director Damian McCarthy reveals how he’s remake his first movie today
Director Damian McCarthy, known for the horror film Hokum distributed by indie distributor Neon, is discussing how he would remake his debut feature Caveat. McCarthy, an Irish writer-director, shot Caveat on a modest $250,000 budget, and the film premiered at the IndieCork Film Festival in 2020. Though he expresses pride in the film, McCarthy acknowledges that time and experience have given him fresh perspective on areas where the movie could have been improved. He told Polygon that he would like to have “another crack” at the project.
The horror film follows Isaac, an amnesiac drifter portrayed by Johnny French, who accepts a caretaking position for Olga (Leila Sykes), a mentally unwell woman living in isolation on a small island. As part of the unusual arrangement, Isaac is confined by a restrictive harness that limits his movement within the island property. McCarthy’s willingness to revisit his early work reflects a common sentiment among filmmakers of recognizing untapped potential in past projects once armed with additional experience and resources. With Hokum now a hit for Neon, McCarthy appears motivated to refine his earlier vision.