A heretic gives us another side of Hugh Grant. The veteran actor has been entertaining us for years – whether in comedy or romance – but he's taking on a downright badass role in Scott Beck and Bryan Woods' chilling cult horror. The writer-director duo's film is a wildly engaging cat-and-mouse chase between Mr. Reed and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), missionaries for Grant's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beck and Woods know how to create something interesting. The tension of the film never lets up and leaves us on the edge of our seats.
Religious horror often focuses on goods or the Antichrist, however A heretic it goes in another direction. The main conflict here is faith and theological debate. It's full of Barnes and Paxton's willingness to make choices, as Mr. Reed reiterates that they can leave his house whenever they want (although he finds it difficult to do so). Mr. Reid has studied theology for years, but he claims to have found the one true religion, while the “big three” religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are merely repetitions of something older. It's an intoxicating narrative structure that leads to a surprising final act.
Heretic is a Magnetic Thriller Examining Religion
A heretic primarily due to excellent, sharp conversations. The film presents a push-and-pull dynamic between Mr. Reed's distrust and Paxton and Barnes' confidence. Regardless of what either party believes, the film still asserts that they have a system of thought to which they subscribe. This is particularly interesting because the power shifts at different points in the film, even if Mr. Reed has the upper hand for most of the film's runtime. It's a thorough and exciting study of religion and theology, so much so that after watching it, I wanted to do more research.
As far as horror goes, there aren't too many jump scares or anything of that nature. Rather, A heretic based on the claustrophobic tension that permeates the film. There is a deep sense of uneasiness that is palpable as soon as Mr. Reed opens the door, and Grant plays Mr. Reed with menacing subtlety and genuine intrigue. Even when he brings up some thought-provoking points in the discussion, he is appalling. Thriller can be excruciating to sit through as you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Beck and Woods set a good pace so that nothing feels rushed.
Grant plays Mr. Reed with a combination of menacing sophistication and genuine intrigue.
A film with heavy dialogue can be difficult to cope with. The dialogue must remain interesting and tense to maintain interest and momentum. Fortunately, the filmmakers have created a disturbing and hypnotic atmosphere. While we fear for the lives of Paxton and Barnes, we hang on Reed's every word. They are not passive characters, taking things into their own hands and pushing back against Mr. Reed's ideas with their own. Thatcher's Barnes is particularly astute because her family tried other churches before settling on the LDS, which turned out to be a creepy affair.
The Heretic Makes Great Use of Its Creepy Setting
This allows the actors to perfect their performances
Confined to the interior of Mr. Reed's creepy house, A heretic it makes phenomenal use of the small but seemingly large space. Camera angles change to match the interior, tricking our eyes as we pan over everything Mr. Reid has packed into each room and the ominous doors that stand as sentinels in the background. Dim lighting sets the mood, warning us that something terrible is about to happen. It's almost like the house itself, a labyrinth of endless rooms and tunnels, is a layered and confusing argument unto itself.
The tight space allows the actors to use body language and facial expressions in an engaging way. The close-ups of their faces add to the ongoing tension, and their close proximity accentuates their every move. Sometimes we know their decisions before they make them, other times we are surprised. Grant is at the top of his game here, talkative but alarmingly open. It's enough to chill her heart when she slowly smiles. As Mr. Reed, Grant is the best kind of villain – menacing, defiant and sharp as a knife.
A heretic
knows exactly how to fascinate us. It's a unique horror experience that's sure to get everyone talking.
Thatcher (from Showtime Yellow jackets) is also fantastic; her fear of Mr. Reed never overshadows her desire to protect her gum and Paxton. Reed preys on her suspicion, but Thatcher's character is not so naive. One of the best scenes is when the two go head-to-head in a deliciously intense verbal spat. East is equally good, played by Paxton with an exuberant energy that works in contrast to the characters of Thatcher and Grant. He's certainly the youngest character in the fantasy, but his portrayal of East proves that Paxton shouldn't be underestimated.
It's been a while since a horror thriller has been this compelling. A heretic it has everything I could want from horror, and it made me think about the debates that make up most of the conflicts in the film. The rush aspect gives the film a sense of being caught in a cage, which adds to the creepiness of the setting. The subsequent twists are well placed and the writer-director duo know when to go through each story point, tying everything together at the end. A heretic knows exactly how to fascinate us. It's a unique horror experience that's sure to get everyone talking.
A heretic It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024. The movie is 110 minutes long and has not yet been rated. It is expected to be shown in cinemas on November 15.