A24's cult horror film A heretic It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and Screen Rant was on hand to talk to the minds behind the story. Written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, credited as the creators of the film. Quiet Placethe film follows two young Mormon women whose lives are changed forever when they enter the home of a seemingly polite but ultimately very strange man.
A heretic stars FablemenChloe East as Sister Paxton and Sophie Thatcher as Sister Barnes, who go door-to-door preaching about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when invited in by Mr. Reid (Hugh Grant). Although he seems welcoming at first, engaging them in interesting theological discussions, things soon take a terrifying turn when he refuses to let them leave.
Screen Rant interviewed stars and directors A heretic On the TIFF 2024 red carpet, he discusses the questions of faith and philosophy that go into making a horror film. Beck and Woods also shared their thoughts Quiet Place Grant made a very interesting hint about sequels Bridget Jones theory and answered his first question about Thatcher Yellow jackets season 3.
Independent Filmmakers Appeal to Return to The Quiet World
“We love sequels and remakes just like everyone else, but…”
Screen Rant: I'm so excited A hereticand the trailer alone had me on the edge of my seat. And of course, your pedigree speaks for itself. At what point in your process do you know you have a hit on your hands?
Scott Beck: I don't know. It's one of those things where I think we're the two of us, and so we used our shared brain to try out any idea we had. Whether it's A Quiet Place , which is an idea that's been stuck in a drawer for a long time and we pull it out and go, “I still feel like there's something there,” or Heretic , which is a film based on that. about our decades of conversations about religion and the occult. What happens when you die? I think there's always a sticky idea for us.
Bryan Woods: Yeah, it's about our deepest, darkest fears, because it's our anxiety about what happens when we die, and there are so many different religions on planet Earth, many of them beautiful. And such a lingering question: “What is the one true religion and what does it mean to believe or not to believe?”
The film explores all of these. It's a conversation about these things that are really meaningful to us, and we're so grateful to have brought this amazing cast together because they fit the conversation so well. We simply couldn't be happier.
Screen Rant: with Quiet Placeyou set the whole universe in motion. Is this a world you will ever return to with your own pen, or do you let it grow on its own?
Scott Beck: That's a great question. I mean, I would never rule it out, but at the same time, I think what always inspires us is finding the next original story. We were so excited to be able to tell the story of a family in the Heartland, where we were from Iowa before The Quiet Place. And Heretic was born of the same instinct.
Although it can always be an option, there are many ideas that we are excited to be original.
Bryan Woods: Yes, we love sequels and remakes as much as anyone, but we miss that era of movies where the big hits of each year were things you've never heard of before. It's such a privilege to be able to create and throw new ideas at the wall. The studio behind Heretic, A24, is amazing at taking big swings and investing in original ideas. They are simply amazing apartments.
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Hugh Grant Reveals The Theological Controversies In Heresy That Most Surprised Him
“Many of the basic tenets of Christianity were not really new.”
Screen Rant: I know there are some serious theological debates A hereticand it seems Mormonism has a lot of real-life reviews. Was there anything that surprised you the most or that you found most interesting when it came to the religious aspect?
Hugh Grant: Some of the arguments my character made in this film were new to me. The guys who wrote and ran it did some interesting research on how many of the basic tenets of Christianity aren't actually new. Virgin-born saviors baptized in miraculous rivers actually existed in many religions and cults for thousands of years before Christ came. I was very interested in this.
Screen Rant: I'm excited too Bridget Jones: Crazy About a Boy. How does it feel to have another shot at Bridget without Mark Darcy?
Hugh Grant: I'm not sure he's not in it. I think they are hiding something.
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Heretic's Chloe East Praises Hugh Grant as a Costar and Mentor
“It was always there and available and always connected.”
Screen Rant: This movie is about Mormonism, but there is very real research done on it. What was it like getting into a character so close to you?
Chloe East: A lot of times you see Mormon missionaries in movies as jokes, not real people. I wanted to represent a true missionary sister. I had friends on a mission during the shoot and I was texting them like, “Is this accurate? Is this accurate? Give me a verse to read.” So I almost felt responsible. I wanted to protect the missionaries there. I just wanted a really real picture.
This movie took me on a journey. It was the most exhausting movie I've ever done. Mentally, physically… But because I watched the movie, it was all worth it. I love the movie, but it was difficult.
Screen Rant: How difficult was working with Hugh Grant? I imagine it's a bit of an awe-inspiring moment.
Chloe East: Yeah, she was amazing. He is truly amazing. Such a talented actor. Frankly, I don't even need to say this, but it was nice not to have to force anything. It was always there and ready and always connected and so you didn't really have to worry about the scene or really get away from anything. It was just there. And you can focus on where the script is and what our characters are trying to say.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
Perverted Star Sophie Thatcher Teases Yellow Jackets Season 3 Without Juliette Lewis
“There's just this dark and empty space, it's really sad.”
Screen Rant: What was your relationship with Sister Barnes and her faith?
Sophie Thatcher: It was interesting. Sister Barnes feels like a younger version of me. I was feeling more shy and a little bit more reserved, so it was kind of tapping into a younger version of myself, but also the normal character thing that you do with anybody. [role]. Because it's been a while. It's been about 10 years since I was that age, but most of my family is still Mormon, so I was asking a lot of questions.
My co-star, Chloe, still has a lot of friends who are Mormon, so it was about figuring out what the most realistic portrayal was without being a caricature or a joke.
Screen Rant: What was your favorite memory from the set, with or without Hug Grant?
Sophie Thatcher: I'll tell you my favorite memory. We talk about Taco Bell in the movie, and I love Taco Bell. I have this monologue about Taco Bell—a very dramatic monologue—and the directors brought in Taco Bell. I said, “Oh, that's very sweet. Of course you did.” I mean, it was such a sweet moment. It was a very full turn.
Screen Rant: I'm excited for season 3 too Yellow jackets. How does it feel as an actor to play young Natalie now that we know what happened to her?
Sophie Thatcher: Yes, interesting. I haven't been asked that yet. I haven't done any press for the yellow jackets yet.
As if there is freedom. It seems to me that even though he didn't kill himself, there is a certain darkness about him. There's just this dark and empty space, it's really sad. But Juliet [Lewis] it's always in the back of my mind and at this point it's inside me. I did it for two seasons, so it feels like—it sounds crazy—but it's in me.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
More About Heretic (2024)
Sister Paxton (Chloe East, TIFF '22's The Fabelmans) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher, The Yellow Jackets) happily continue their mission to spread the good news about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Compiling a list of doors to knock on, they arrive at the quiet suburban home of Mr. Reed (Grant), who is not only polite and welcoming, but also genuinely fascinated by the history and teachings of Mormonism.
In fact, Mr. Reid is quite knowledgeable about all the major world religions and is eager to discuss them with women. Maybe too willing. With the rain outside and Mr. Reed's wife making a pie in the next room, the setting is completely relaxed. The only thing that could spoil it would be Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes wanting to leave.
Check out our other TIFF 2024 interviews here:
A heretic
It premiered at TIFF on September 8th and will hit theaters on November 8th.