Heretic, released in the U.S. on November 8th, is the latest A24 thriller/horror film to hit the scene. Heretic is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, writers of A Quiet Place (2018) and The Boogeyman (2023). The pair also directed and wrote Haunt (2019) and 65 (2023).
The story follows two young Mormon women who visit a man’s house to try to convert him to the church. Hugh Grant plays the skeptical man, named Mr. Reed. Mr Reed appears to be a friendly, harmless British man who is curious about the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Through lengthy conversations, the two girls and Mr. Reed discuss the promise and validity of religion. He challenges their beliefs, but they remain strong in their faith. It is not long until Mr. Reed reveals that he is not the well-meaning man he claims to be. When the girls attempt to leave Mr. Reed’s house and are blocked from doing so, his true intentions for their visit are revealed. This is when the girls’ objective switches from changing Mr. Reed’s stance on religion and Mormonism to escaping the house.
As the title suggests, Mr. Reed is a heretic. A heretic differs in opinion from established religions; Mr. Reed fits this title in every way. Grant delivers a convincing and unnerving performance as the diabolical Mr. Reed. The two Mormon missionaries, Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes, are played by ex-Mormon actresses. Chloe East plays Sister Paxton, and Sister Barnes is played by Sophie Thatcher, who previously worked with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods on The Boogeyman (2023).
Heretic is a thought-provoking psychological horror movie. The majority of the film takes place in one setting: an older man’s one-story house. What is hidden within and beneath this house guides the story and creates the horror. Heretic shakes up what is expected in the religious horror genre. After years of religious horror films about possession, exorcism, and even immaculate conception; Heretic turns the religious horror genre on its head. Instead of another take on the horror of Catholicism, we get philosophical monologues and mind games. Even though the two missionary characters are Mormon, this story is universal to all believers in religion.
In some ways, Heretic is a traditional horror movie, while in other ways, it is a completely new concept. There are a few jumpscares, and the film is slightly predictable; using horror tropes audiences have seen time and time again. On the other hand, the slow-burning psychological elements of the film blended with religious undertones are innovative and unique.
Horror aside, much of this film consists of conversations about religion. Mr. Reed is obsessed with theology and the power of control, and he employs his obsessions by rambling to the girls about his theories whilst holding them captive. Mr. Reed is obsessed with the power religion has over these missionary women. He tests their faith as he lectures them on and on about the fallacies of religious stories and figures. Mr. Reed uses metaphors such as board games and music to explain his theory. He uses the metaphor of iterations of a song or board game as iterations of religion.
Mr Reed’s lecturing takes up much of the screen time in the film’s first half. Paying attention to this dialogue is well worth it when the mind games begin. Things take a dark turn in the second half of the film when his plan comes to fruition. Without going into details, the film’s finale leaves the audience questioning what they watched. The audience’s religious background, or lack thereof, will determine their interpretation of the ending.
If you are looking for gore and jumpscares out of your next horror watch, leave Heretic off your watchlist; but if you like slow-burner thrillers and find psychological and religious horror interesting, definitely give Heretic a watch.