Rating: 8.7/10
The latest psychological horror/thriller film from A24, “Heretic,” achieves tension and terror while posing interesting questions on the nature of religion — though not quite delivering on all of them.
The film follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), as they visit potential converts. They stumble across the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), where they fall victim to a sadistic game of theological torture.
Grant is the standout of the film, giving an absolutely skin-crawling performance as Mr. Reed, showcasing his incredible versatility as an actor by portraying an all-time thriller antagonist.
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As the tension ratchets up and his actions become more unsettling, he maintains an affable charm that makes him all the more terrifying.
Thatcher and East deliver solid performances as well. They sell the terror of the situation perfectly while staying active agents in the story, driving the forward momentum of the plot in tandem with Grant. Despite the gravity of their situation, they prove to be resilient and intelligent protagonists able to stand against Reed’s vile intent.
The film’s setting, an isolated house in a storm, functions excellently. As more secrets are revealed about Reed’s plot, the protagonists discover more layers of the house, leading them deeper into an isolated rabbit hole they can’t escape. With each sinister move Reeds makes, the house becomes a more oppressive and terrifying space for the characters.
The gore in the movie is surprisingly limited, as it waits for the final few sequences to introduce these elements. This makes it hit all the harder when violence does occur, especially after the threat of it has built up for the entirety of the film.
The film’s biggest talking point is its religious commentary. In an interview with Fangoria, directors Scott Beck and Brian Woods described the angle at which they wanted to approach their theological discussions.
“Religion is terrifying,” Beck said. “But I think there is something about religion and how it can steer people down certain ideas and beliefs, and control others with it.”
The film digs into this ideology with Reed’s character. His monologues about the nature of religion and belief propel the story without ever feeling like the pacing has slowed down.
Grant’s energetic performance, alongside popular music and board games like Monopoly to emphasize his character’s points, allows him to be engaging and even humorous at times.
The film ultimately ends up being a battle of wits between Paxton, Barnes and Reed. Reed tests his victims with questions about the validity of their beliefs, while Barnes and Paxton attempt to counter him while finding a means of escape.
The twisted game between them highlights the sinister intellectualism of Reed and the fortitude of Paxton and Barnes.
It’s from these debates that the film’s most compelling questions arise: Is there one true religion, how does belief influence us and can we ever know if there is a higher power?
These questions are explored in detail as the film goes on. As the mystery surrounding Reed’s theological experiments continues, the film builds toward an answer and a purpose to everything that’s happened.
So, does the film deliver an answer? Well, somewhat. With a less than two-hour runtime, it doesn’t have enough time to provide a satisfactory answer to everything it built up to. Granted, it does conclude its question and gives solid closure on its themes, but considering the buildup, it feels a bit too safe.
This isn’t a huge detriment to film; it still works overall. However, it’s easy to see where the film could have had a more satisfying conclusion with more thought.
Despite its somewhat disappointing conclusion, “Heretic” is a worthwhile and thrilling ride. With incredible tension, great performances and thought-provoking religious commentary, it makes a name for itself in its genre. Horror and thriller fans would be remiss not to give the film a chance and find their own answers to its questions.
