What would you do if your faith was put to the ultimate test? That is the question that Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), two young Mormon Missionaries, are challenged with in Heretic when they meet the seemingly harmless Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), an older gentleman who, at first glance, is seemingly only interested in getting more information about the Mormon church. As the conversation goes on, a darker side of Mr. Reed slowly unravels before the two missionaries, and their struggle to escape his home with their lives begins.
Heretic is equal parts theological discussion and psychological thriller, with the unease setting in almost as soon as you see Mr. Reed open his door to the two missionaries. He beckons them to come inside out of the rain, assuring them that his wife is home so as not to break their rules about not being alone with a man, and the discussion begins. What follows is an increasingly tense series of conversations regarding the Mormon faith, expertly written to be as accurate as possible to the experience of being Mormon and having someone question your faith. Having been raised Mormon myself, I was genuinely surprised at just how accurate Heretic was when it came to not only the conversations had in the film, but also the mannerisms and characterizations on display from both Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East.
The entire film feels claustrophobic and discomforting, with plenty of lingering close-ups accompanying the tense script. Hugh Grant is superb in his role as Mr. Reed, just unassuming enough that he never comes across as overtly sinister, though he’s so clearly confident that he has the upper hand throughout the entirety of the film that it sets you on edge every time he begins speaking. It’s a great villainous turn for Grant, and I really hope it’s not the last time we see him in this type of role. He handles the script – incredibly dense with different theological ideas and pop-culture references – with aplomb, and I loved every minute of it.
Grant’s not the only star in the room either, with his magnetic performance easily matched by his co-stars. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East each shine in their roles, both of them effortlessly becoming the sister missionaries they are playing. Early on, Thatcher’s Sister Barnes is noted to have been more successful on her mission than East’s Sister Paxton thus far, and it’s easy to see why that is. Sister Barnes is a convert to the Mormon church, and easily strikes up seemingly normal conversations about religion, as if she were discussing movies or television, making it easy for Mr. Reed to hold a conversation with her, On the opposite end, Sister Paxton, born and raised Mormon, initially comes across as naive and over eager to share what are essentially scripted talking points about the Mormon church in an effort to show Mr. Reed what the Mormon church is about, only deviating when Mr. Reed’s questions take her by complete surprise or when she doesn’t have an answer and reverts to simply being polite. Watching the Sisters’ dynamic unfold and change throughout the course of the film as the missionaries become increasingly desperate to escape Mr. Reed’s home was a delight to watch, and both Thatcher and East gave performances to rival Grant’s, making Heretic a film I’d gladly watch over and over just to see these performances.
Once the discussions are over and it’s time for Sisters Barnes and Paxton to make a choice about leaving the house, Heretic begins to take a turn which I think is slightly for the worse. I won’t spoil anything here but the tightly-written theological discussion begins to fall by the wayside for something seemingly more sinister, and I have to say the last third of the film isn’t quite as strong as the first two acts. Mr. Reed’s actions will keep you guessing over and over again, which is wonderful, though the film falls a little flat as more and more of Mr. Reed’s motivations are revealed – especially so, I expect, if you’re watching this film as someone who has never been a part of the Mormon church. As for audience members who were raised Mormon, they may see things a little differently, with a poignant scene in the climax of the film subtextually addressing the way the Mormon church treats women especially.
That’s not to say the film is strongly for or against any one religion – or lack thereof. Instead, Heretic walks a fine line of having a discussion about belief versus disbelief and the benefits or drawbacks of both. The way this line is deftly walked throughout the film is evidence of an incredible amount of research by the pair of writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place, 65), who used this research to write a tight and suspenseful script. This script, combined with extraordinary performances from the three main cast members made for quite a memorable psychological horror film. It’s highly likely that those who get the most out of this film are going to be ex-Mormon viewers, though the writing and performances will make for a good time no matter your background.
Score: 8/10
HERETIC
Written & Directed by: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Release Date: November 8, 2024
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, and more.
Rating: R
Running Time: 1hr 51mins
Synopsis: Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.
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