Heretic is a 2024 American psychological horror film directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and the cast includes Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East.
Heretic is the latest psychological horror thriller released by A24 (Hereditary, I Saw The TV Glow, Midsommar), that aims to give viewers some thought-provoking commentary surrounding religion and belief.
The story follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), who find themselves in an isolated situation when they visit the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), a man with some dark and twisted intentions.
As the missionaries are drawn into a sinister game that challenges their faith and morality, the film explores how belief systems can both empower and control, and raises difficult questions about the nature of religion and its impact on human behavior.
Hugh Grant is fantastic in Heretic, and is the standout of the film as Mr. Reed, the film’s sadistic and charismatic antagonist.
He is is mostly known for playing some shall we say, charming characters, but his portrayal in Heretic marks a bold departure, and the type of role I am sure no one will be against him playing again in the future.
Mr. Reed is a calm, intelligent figure whose polite demeanor hides his true deeply disturbing nature.
His philosophical monologues on religion make him a presence you are gripped by as you watch his actions take on a twisted, almost playful edge and his performance is the driving force behind much of the film’s tension, as he has this ability to keep your attention with every word and movement.
More of the same in the future, please Mr Grant.
Rather than relying on jump scares, Heretic is heavily religious based, and is more of a philosophical exploration of faith, belief, and the ways in which religious ideologies can shape and control individuals, rather than outright horror, and as the story unfolds, Heretic becomes quite the gripping psychological film that dives deep into themes of faith, belief, and control.
Directors Scott Beck and Brian Woods approach these themes with a nuanced perspective, using Mr. Reed’s character to highlight the darker side of religious influence.
Throughout the film, Reed pushes Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton to question their understanding of faith and the nature of truth, which forces them to confront the limits of their beliefs in ways that are both intellectually and emotionally taxing.
As Reed’s game unfolds, the missionaries are forced to wrestle with difficult questions surround what they believe in, and these philosophical questions are interwoven into the fabric of the film, which adds a lot of depth.
The tension is fantastic and gradually builds as Reed’s charm fades, revealing his true nature of someone who is manipulating the women into doubting their own beliefs.
And while Grant shines, so do Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher.
East’s portrayal of the cheerful Sister Paxton and Thatcher’s resilient Sister Barnes creates a compelling contrast to Mr. Reed’s madness.
While I really enjoyed the film overall, it's fair to say the first half is better than the second, with the latter part of the film becoming a bit predictable, as the tension slowly declines the longer the film goes on.
The plot as well at times doesn't really hold up, and the ending was a bit disappointing, and fell a little flat for what came before.
But these are minor criticisms.
Overall, Heretic is a pretty good religious horror film, following The First Omen and Immaculate (Which was disappointing).
Strong performances and tension (for the most part) keeps you interested and hooked, with some strong depth behind the themes in the film, and any film that leaves me think after watching is always a positive.
If you haven't watched Heretic yet, do yourself a favor and go and watch it, and can check out all the trailers and posters released for the movie as well.
To be honest, it is worth watching just for Hugh Grant's performance alone.
I would rate this film 78% on my horror movie nerd-o-meter.
[Heretic on IMDB] [Where to watch Heretic]
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