A new horror film partly shot in Abu Dhabi is hitting cinemas this week | Things to do in Abu Dhabi

A new horror film set to release in UAE cinemas this week has a direct link to Abu Dhabi, with scenes filmed in Al Ain’s desert.

HOKUM, produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, arrives across the UAE and wider MENA region on 7 May after already breaking into the top five at the U.S. box office.

Released regionally by Front Row Filmed Entertainment, the film has a cast led by Adam Scott (famous for Severence and Parks and Recreation), alongside Peter Coonan, Austin Amelio and David Wilmot, and comes off a wider global rollout and strong early reviews. It premiered at South by Southwest Film & TV Festival and is currently sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The story follows a writer who heads to a remote coastal hotel to scatter his parents’ ashes, only to find himself drawn into a mystery involving a locked room, a disappearance and something darker beneath the surface.

While the story travels internationally, part of the production took place much closer to home in our capital, and the scenes filmed in the Remah Desert were chosen for a stark backdrop to the film and add to its atmosphere on screen.

HOKUM is the latest project from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the studio behind Emirati feature Al Kameen, working again with Spooky Pictures. Together, they’ve built a slate of genre-led films including Hoba, Watcher and Late Night with the Devil.