It’s estimated that over 4,200 different religions exist worldwide today, including churches, denominations, tribes, and other faith-based groups. Additionally, it’s said that over 10,000 variations of these religions have existed throughout history. The unshakable belief of there being “one true religion” permeates throughout many of these groups. Also, despite this immense variety, three-quarters of the world’s religious population identifies with one of these five: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism.
How might a devout believer who’s never once questioned their faith respond to being challenged? Moreover, what if the person challenging them is an ingenious serial killer? This scenario is presented in Heretic, the latest from filmmaking duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Known for their breakout horror movie Haunt, their dinosaur sci-fi thriller 65, and for co-creating the A Quiet Place franchise as well as last year’s The Boogeyman, the writer-director pair are no strangers to bending genres in unlikely configurations. In Heretic, Beck and Woods take an unapologetic, if not a bit brash, approach to exposing religious hypocrisies.
Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are two Mormon missionaries traveling door-to-door together, attempting to spread the bountiful good word of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have tackled a few house calls, with one “Mr. Reed” being next on their list. On arrival at the residence, out steps a welcoming and cheery Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), who invites the pair into his humble home as he seems more than eager to chat about the church. Paxton and Barnes explain they can only enter a house if a woman is present, but Reed assures them that his wife is in the kitchen baking blueberry pie, even pointing out the delicious aroma.
Upon entering Mr. Reed’s seemingly cozy home, the young missionaries engage in a conversation about Mormonism. The chat starts innocently enough, but Reed abruptly flips the script, relentlessly grilling the girls on their knowledge of their faith and the church’s history. Each accusation and prod adds to the palpable tension in the air, prompting increased heart rates and beads of sweat dripping from the girls’ foreheads. It’s not until Reed briefly steps out of the room that the Sisters discover that the front door is locked from the inside and will not open. With Barnes’ subsequent discovery of a blueberry pie-scented candle on the coffee table, it becomes absolutely clear that the girls are in danger.
From this point onward, Heretic turns into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. As a wicked storm rages outside, Mr. Reed forces the two Mormon Sisters to face the loopholes of their religion, lecturing them with his extensive (and admittedly impressive) research and knowledge of theology. He tests them purely out of his own curiosity, pushing them to their limits to see if they will denounce their faith in favor of escape and survival. But after forcing the missionaries to witness a self-proclaimed “miracle” of resurrection, Mr. Reed’s tests turn uncontrollable and lethal in ways neither party could have speculated.
Writer-director Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are excellent at not only crafting tension but also holding it strong during Heretic‘s entire 110-minute runtime. Impressively, the movie doesn’t overstay its welcome by one minute. Beck and Woods’ shared vision runs steadily throughout their script’s many wild twists and turns, some of which could have easily lost the audience if not for the directors’ tenacity. The film’s anxiety-inducing thrills are also conveyed and elevated through its three key performances from Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets), Chloe East (The Fabelmans), and industry veteran Hugh Grant. Thatcher and East shine in their roles as missionaries turned survivalists, especially since both undergo a formidable level of character growth by the end of the story.
However, Heretic is ultimately a master showcase for Hugh Grant, as the theology-based narrative rests heavily on his more than adept shoulders. His portrayal of a cunningly deceptive killer is as chilling as it is exciting. Grant exposes an unforeseen side of his acting talents, crafting a devilish combination of brilliance and evil that results in a new career standout performance. He truly carries the movie, and it’s apparent how much time, effort, and unquestionable enjoyment went into building Mr. Reed as a horror villain.
Heretic is astounding across the board on a technical level. Famed South Korean cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung (Oldboy, The Handmaiden) maintains a claustrophobic frame. He keeps the camera up close and personal with the two female protagonists, utilizing a multitude of unique lenses and zooms to make the audience feel all of their panic and terror as their tormentor mercilessly closes in on them. Precise editing from Justin Li and production designer Philip Messina‘s layered set design further build upon Heretic‘s imposing cinematic scale. Messina has created a mind-blowing mousetrap of a house with plenty of hidden corridors, contraptions, and compartments, all cleverly disguised as the simply cluttered vintage home of Mr. Reed.
Bryan Woods and Scott Beck’s Heretic doesn’t attempt to provide direct answers to any archaic disagreements around religion and faith, nor is it extremely biased to the point of offense. The horror-thriller cleverly questions flaws in thinking from both parties, opening up valuable conversations and trains of thought that will stay with the viewer long after the credits roll. Can blind faith be commended and praised at all, or has it too far become a breeding ground for generational brainwashing and control? Furthermore, are there more similarities than differences between certain belief systems across the globe?
While Heretic doesn’t answer any of these hefty questions, it does show how shockingly fun pondering theology can be. With some biblically accurate scares and bone-chilling tension, and the addition of one wickedly charming Hugh Grant, Heretic is the kind of idiosyncratic thriller/horror film that cannot be replicated.
Heretic hits theaters on November 8!
Release Date: November 8, 2024.
Directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods.
Written by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods.
Produced by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, Stacey Sher, Julia Glausi, & Jeanette Volturno.
Main Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, & Elle Young.
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon.
Composer: Chris Bacon.
Production Companies: A24, Beck/Woods, & Shiny Penny.
Distributor: A24.
Runtime: 110 minutes.
Rated R.
