Heretic (2024)

​"Heretic" stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, and Elle Young.  Released on November 8, 2024, the film has two Mormon missionaries encountering a shocking secret from an Englishman.

The film is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who also directed "Impulse", "Nightlight", "Haunt", and "65".  They also wrote "A Quiet Place" and 2023's "The Boogeyman".  Many of us have our share of religious beliefs, with some more dedicated to them than others.  However, there are some occasions when we are forced to question those beliefs and even our way of life.  One of those occasions is going through a house of horrors that not even God can help us escape from.  While October is over and done with, that doesn't mean we can't have some terrifying fun anymore, with this latest horror thriller proving this theory further.  This film seeks to give audiences one final fright before we focus our attention on the real terror of the year: the holidays…and listening to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" countless times.  Was the film able to capture the genuine terror of religious belief to convert its horror fans?  Let's find out. 

The story centers on Sister Barnes (Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (East).  They're Mormon missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tasked with going door-to-door and converting people to Christianity.  Their latest stop is a house in the woods, where a reclusive Englishman named Mr. Reed (Grant) resides.  However, despite Reed's generosity and eagerness, Barnes and Paxton eventually discover that there's more to him than they thought he was.  His true self resulted in the Mormons being trapped inside the house, and the only way to leave was to partake in a challenge set by Reed to test their beliefs.  Barnes and Paxton are now caught in a cat-and-mouse game as they attempt to prove their faith and learn more about Reed's true intentions. 

While I haven't watched as much religion-based content as everyone else, I often watch movies that combine holiness with unexplainable terror.  "Heretic" is unsurprisingly no different, as its trailer was enough to invoke my curiosity toward its mysterious and unsettling concept.  There's also the matter of the return of the filmmaking duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who are looking to bounce back from their disastrously bland dinosaur thriller, "65".  Of course, that didn't overshadow the other frightening movies they're involved in, especially "A Quiet Place", my personal favorite from the duo, even though they only wrote the screenplay.  From the looks of its reviews, it sounded like their recent entry in the horror genre has already made audiences forgive them for fumbling a cool concept like Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs.  But, as usual, what matters is what I thought of this piece of holy horror.  Well, I would say it suitably stands alongside the other great horror movies of 2024 that are effective in both storytelling and horrifying chills.

"Heretic" is a brain-teasing and engrossingly unsettling roller coaster whose frights don't just come from the cast themselves but also its themes.  The film deals with the ideologies and beliefs of a person's religious path, mainly Barnes and Paxton, who are on the path of Christianity.  However, they find their faith tested when Mr. Reed claims to have discovered the "true" religion.  Instead of going for cheap jump scares or a shocking big finale like most conventional horror films have, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods went for a more subtle and philosophical approach to the topic and its horror elements, including the claustrophobic atmosphere.  This direction might not work for everyone, especially when the first act takes a bit to get to the heart of the plot.  However, in my eyes, this is another sublime example of using dialogue and discomforting aura to evoke terror and doubt.  Outside of a couple of solid scares, "Heretic" knew exactly how to get inside my skin without resorting to supernatural or violent shortcuts.

This is the second film I have watched that was directed by Beck and Woods, following "65", and I have to tell you.  After the first few minutes, I immediately knew their vision worked much better here than in "65".  Yes, the first act can be a bit draggy before the real mind games begin, but it wasn't to the point of being boring despite being an hour and 50 minutes long.  Within its tightly-sewn plot, the dialogue-driven scenes between Reed and the Mormons resemble a social gathering regarding the build-up.  It may seem harmless at first, but then you start to reconsider attending because of the discomforting and darkly humorous topics it brings up as it progresses.  But, I didn't leave right away because of how engaged I was in the conversations.  That's pretty much my way of describing the plot in "Heretic": a seemingly innocent gathering slowly becoming an unsettling religious nightmare.  Regarding their direction and screenplay, Beck and Woods delivered a subdued yet consistently tense reflection of the horrors behind religious ideology whose craft matches the duo's storytelling.  Despite liking their script for "A Quiet Place" more, I think Beck and Woods should be blessed with what they came up with for "Heretic".

Regarding the technical aspects, the clear winner has to be the cinematography, which worked wonders in capturing the immersion and dismay of its claustrophobic and darkly lit backgrounds.  The cinematographer behind these impressive wide-angle and panning shots was Chung Chung-hoon, a name you might be familiar with from other movies I reviewed like "It", "Last Night in Soho", and even "Wonka".  Regardless of the product's quality, I would still credit the guy for delivering this kind of immersion in his cinematography.  This was backed up by Justin Li's editing, which suitably resembles the film's brain-teasing sequences, and Chris Bacon's musical score.

Of course, it wasn't just the story's subdued frights that kept me engaged and even slightly uncomfortable.  It was also Hugh Grant, who is still a sublime actor worth remembering by audiences and critics, especially since he's well-known for his charming and romantic roles.  However, his against-type roles also play a huge part in his successful career, including those that are action-packed, dramatic, and family-friendly.  "Heretic" sees Grant take on a villainous and demented role in the horror genre as a man seeking to prove his findings through disturbing methods.  Undoubtedly, Hugh Grant's performance was the highlight of the movie, combining the actor's usual charismatic energy with Mr. Reed's unsettling persona to craft another brilliant against-type showcase for the actor that earns God's blessing.  He was fantastic in the role.  The film was Sophie Thatcher's latest collaboration with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods following "The Boogeyman" last year.  She was also terrific as Sister Barnes.  I was also really impressed with Chloe East, known for playing Monica Sherwood in "The Fabelmans", regarding her haunting performance as Sister Paxton.

Overall, "Heretic" preaches to the holy horror gods with a brilliant and genuinely unnerving display of religious terror and superb talent.  Its subdued approach to the concept from Beck and Woods may not convert those looking for something wild and shockingly violent in its storytelling, especially when the first act takes a while to get to the cat-and-mouse game of belief.  However, I'm one of the people who admired it for its ability to evoke something mindful in its themes instead of using narrative shortcuts for shock value.  Hugh Grant delivered another rewarding against-type performance that balances humor with discomfort, and the two young actresses were terrific with their own acting talents.  There's also Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, whose direction and screenplay effectively examine its reverent topics in an uncomfortable and philosophical light.  Those elements, along with the craftsmanship, make "Heretic" another praise-worthy addition to my favorite horror movies of 2024.  I will certainly recommend this film to those who want a last-minute dose of terror before the holiday season arrives to scare them.

A-