Heretic main backdrop
Heretic main poster

7.1/10 • 60

2024-10-311h 51m

HorrorThriller

Question everything.

Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

Directors
Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Writters
Bryan Woods, Scott Beck
Editors
Justin Li

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Sophie Thatcher

    Sophie Thatcher

    Sister Barnes

  2. Chloe East

    Chloe East

    Sister Paxton

  3. Hugh Grant

    Hugh Grant

    Mr. Reed

  4. Topher Grace

    Topher Grace

    Elder Kennedy

  5. Elle Young

    Elle Young

    Prophet

  6. Julie Lynn-Mortensen

    Julie Lynn-Mortensen

    Pedestrian

  7. Haylie Hansen

    Haylie Hansen

    Teenager

  8. Elle McKinnon

    Elle McKinnon

    Teenager

  9. Hanna Huffman

    Hanna Huffman

    Teenager

Reviews5

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Nov 3, 2024

7/10

I suppose that many of us have had the god-squad on the doorstep trying to peddle their philosophising but I doubt many are quite as prepared, or as tempting, as the butter-wouldn't-melt "Reed" (Hugh Grant) when the enthusiastic sisters "Barnes" (Sophie Thatcher) and "Paxton" (Chloe East) arrive at his door. Promises of a meeting with his wife and some blueberry pie lure them in and soon they are having a meaningful debate that rather puts the girls on edge. That anxiety only gets worse as there's no sign of the wife and the scented candle proves to have a most unusual, and illuminating, aroma. They conclude that getting out of his home is the best plan, but that isn't going to be straightforward. He has other plans, and they are going to have to play a game of belief/disbelief if they are to have any hope of getting back to their church. The horror aspects of this are not especially interesting - it's a sort of competent hybrid of "Escape Room" meets "Cluedo". What helps this stand out a bit more is a subtly menacing effort from Grant and the standard of the writing. The conversation between the three for the first half of the film is quite thought provoking in itself. It asks questions that are truly valid and worthy of consideration amongst those of or without organised faith. The assertions around "iterations", burgers and games of "Monopoly" also raise a few solid questions about carts and horses that I rather appreciated as we are invited to question or evaluate the whole scope of monotheistic religions and their role in our lives. The two women gel well together here too, realising that they are in some sort of peril - both intellectual and physical, and that latter threat is well demonstrated by some creepy settings and creatively used audio. I didn't love the conclusion - I actually found it really quite disappointing, as if Scott Beck had just run out of ideas or didn't quite have the courage of his earlier convictions, but this is the most substantial part I've seen Grant play in a while and he holds it together well. Not your typical psychological drama and worth a watch, I'd say.

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
faithreligioncat and mouseeccentric manwomen of faith