“Heretic” A Thought-Provoking Tense Psychological Thriller

Last year, indie studio A24 released the thriller “Heretic.” After checking out the trailers for this film, I was instantly intrigued. Even though I didn’t get a chance to review the film during its initial release last November, it has stayed on my radar!

In the A24 release “Heretic,” two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed.

Trapped in his house, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

“Heretic” is definitely one of those films that isn’t for everyone. This A24 suspense thriller delivers some truly thought-provoking moments, an unsettling/eerie atmosphere and stand out performances from the lead performers (Sophie Thatcher; Chloe East; Hugh Grant).

This film does an incredible job building the tension and suspense, especially during the first half of the film. During the first half, we see how Mr. Reed (played amazingly by Hugh Grant) goes from being a harmless, but intellectually curious man to someone who challenges the missionaries’ beliefs. The conversations between them also helps build the tension and the overall sense of unease.

While the first half of this film is incredibly tense and suspenseful, the second half does slightly have a shift in tone and goes the typical horror route in a way. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking, suspense-filled moments scattered throughout the first half, the latter half did have some good moments and the shift in tone does work for the most part.

“Heretic” does have some scenes that can really stand out, yet there is one scene that really stood out. During this sequence, Mr. Reed delivers a chilling sermon comparing the origins of religions to the game of Monopoly (yes, you read that right), demonstrating how ideas are co-opted and adapted. He then extends this analogy to popular songs, highlighting the interconnectedness of various belief systems. Hugh Grant’s great performance actually makes this scene truly memorable and slightly uneasy. You just have to see the film and find out for yourself!

“Heretic” is a thought-provoking exploration of faith, control and manipulation that is not for everyone. Filled with intense moments, an ambiguous ending that may be a tad decisive  and a stand out performance from Grant, this A24 film should be seen at least once and recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

Trivia: Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East (the two missionaries in the film) were both raised Mormon and were able to give valuable insight into the religion when shooting the film. This film landed Hugh Grant his seventh Golden Globe nomination.

MPA: Rated R for some bloody violence   (runtime 111 minutes)

You can currently stream “Heretic” on HBO Max or rent it through various PVOD rental platforms.

• Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East were both raised Mormon and were able to give valuable insight into the religion when shooting the movie. They are no longer Mormon.

• Hugh Grant once stated in an interview, "I'm getting bored of playing obvious roles and being typecast." Writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods saw this interview and wrote the character of Mr. Reed with Hugh as their top choice for the role.

• Bryan Woods' chief inspiration in pursuing a work all about religion was the recent death of his own father.

• This film landed Hugh Grant his seventh Golden Globe nomination.

• Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods spent 10 years developing the film. One of the reasons this took so long was because of the meticulous amount of theological research they had to do.