Every Adam Scott Horror Movie To Watch Before Hokum

by

Even before his recent role in Hokum, Adam Scott had already established himself as a versatile actor. While many viewers know him for comedy, like Parks and Recreation, and high-quality television, he’s actually been involved with the horror genre for years. His career includes early work in the Hellraiser films, plus roles involving everything from Christmas demons to killer fish and haunted toys.

Rather than a surprising shift in direction, Hokum feels like a natural progression for director Scott, whose work with horror has been quietly building for some time. With his new film, a collaboration with Damian McCarthy of Oddity, it’s a good moment to revisit Scott’s previous forays into the genre before exploring the terrifying events that unfold at a haunted Irish inn.

Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)

Interestingly, Scott’s breakout role in a major film was actually in a horror movie – and it was part of a well-known franchise!

I remember when Hellraiser: Bloodline came out – it was the fourth movie in the series Clive Barker started. It had a really rough production, with a lot of problems behind the scenes, including script changes and even the director being replaced. What’s really interesting about it is how it jumps around in time – we see everything from a space station way in the future, 2127, all the way back to 1796 Paris and 1996 New York. It’s all about how the Lament Configuration – that puzzle box created by a toymaker named Philip LeMarchand – was first made, and how it opens up a gateway to hell and brings the Cenobites into our world.

Scott portrayed Jacques, a deceitful aide to the wealthy nobleman who first asked LeMarchand to make the puzzle box, and gets caught up in the schemes of the demon Angelique.

The Return (2006)

Scott’s next horror project was the 2006 psychological thriller The Return, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in a significant role after Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The film centers on Joanna Mills (Gellar), a saleswoman struggling with frightening visions, a difficult relationship with her father, and a persistent, threatening ex-boyfriend.

Scott plays Kurt, a threatening ex-boyfriend who relentlessly pursues Joanna when she returns to her Texas hometown – a less common villainous role for Scott.

Piranha 3D (2010)

Scott built a career primarily in comedy. Before landing his well-known role as Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation, he appeared in the critically-acclaimed but short-lived Starz sitcom Party Down. Throughout the 2010s, he continued to focus on comedic roles, even when venturing into horror, where his films blended scares with humor.

I have to admit, I really enjoyed 2010’s Piranha 3D! It was a surprisingly fun remake of the original Piranha from 1978, and the fourth film in the series. I remember Scott had a cool supporting role as Novak, one of the divers brought in by the local sheriff to check out a lake after they found a… well, a very damaged body. Turns out, it was thanks to a school of seriously hungry, ancient piranhas! It’s definitely a playful take on Jaws – they even got Richard Dreyfuss to poke fun at his own character! – but honestly, I kept watching just for the ridiculously over-the-top deaths. It’s just a fun, silly ride.

Krampus (2015)

The Christmas horror-comedy Krampus has surprisingly become a favorite for many. The film centers around Max Engel, a boy who loses his belief in Christmas because of his troubled family. As a result, Max and his family are terrorized by Krampus – a fearsome, horned creature from folklore who punishes naughty children – along with his wicked helpers and killer toys. It’s a bloody, entertaining movie that successfully blends scares and humor.

Little Evil (2017)

The Netflix comedy Little Evil centers around Gary Bloom, who starts to believe his new stepson is actually the Antichrist. The film showcases Scott’s skill at portraying an ordinary guy facing an extraordinary situation – a talent he also demonstrated in Severance – and it’s considered his best work to date.

The Monkey (2025)

If you were even a little late to the movie, you wouldn’t have known Scott was even in it. He only appeared in the opening scene of the Osgood Perkins film, playing a pilot covered in blood who was trying to get rid of the creepy, cursed wind-up monkey. After that, he disappears, leaving his twin sons, Hal (the main character) and Bill, to deal with the monkey, the curse, and a complicated relationship with their father.

Scott, of course, would soon after return for another Neon-distributed production: Hokum.

Read More

2026-05-03 19:41