Writer/Directors: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East
‘A Captivating Horror Classic’
Religion is a sensitive subject that’s rarely portrayed in movies with respect. Movies rarely shine spotlight on the obstacles priests fight which are hidden in plain sight. On a personal level, I find the tales of religion to be relatable. At an early age, I developed bonds with a grandmother appreciating religion with an inspiring message. A devout woman without a doubt, she was rarely afraid to speak out on controversial religious issues she was passionate about. She often gave great speeches about importance of religion that left my family stunned in silence. Seeking a quiet place, religion was a positive force she would embrace. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a grandma which was religiously affiliated. I would often look forward to spend every day with a religious grandmother that loved to pray. However, memory loss brought our bond to a closure. When she was diagnosed with Dementia, my grandma lost interest in religion shaping her persona. As her memory declined, she lost faith in religion which once broadened her mind. It was painful to see my grandmother become forgetful losing track of religious rituals she considered special. Her memory impairment caused our relationship to become distant. No longer the beloved grandma I adore, she become a stranger that I didn’t recognize anymore. Years later, religion has become a sad reminder of a commemorated grandmother that I will forever treasure.
As someone treasuring a grandmother that found religion therapeutic, I appreciated “Heretic”. Released in 2024, Scott Beck’s movie captured missionaries. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s haunting horror thriller. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Hugh Grant, who embodies a heretic demonstrating views against religion. Although “Heretic” is a captivating thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, building an ambiguous conclusion. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment that fans of the horror genre won’t be able to resist.
“Heretic” follows two tragic missionaries that become victims of a religious heretic. Sophie Thatcher portrays Sister Barnes, a righteous Mormon missionary. Assisted by her friend Paxton (Chloe East), Barnes seeks to spread her religious beliefs. However, her faith is tested when she meets a heretic that’s sinister. Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) is a diabolical man demonstrating anti-religious views affecting his ability to succeed. Faced with a dilemma, Sophie questions whether she will be able to overcome religious doubts that cause trauma.
Scott Beck is a newcomer towards themes of religion. Before he directed “Heretic”, Beck had never made a movie about religion before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to religious missionaries that face dangers but he succeeded tremendously. Inspired with Martin Scorsese’s “Silence”, Beck successfully uses low-key lighting to capture bonds between religious missionaries on a dangerous mission. For instance, the low-key lighting enhances the house entrapment scene. During this memorable scene, Sisters Barnes and Paxton experience tensions when they discover they have been locked in Mr. Reed’s house. It brought back memories of my relationship with a grandmother that followed religion shaping her identity. Low-key lighting is a complicated technique. As Paul King’s “Wonka” suggested clearly, low-key lighting elevates commemorated movies about chocolate makers. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Beck demonstrates the frightening tensions that religious missionaries are experiencing.
Another admirable aspect of “Heretic” which merits appreciation is the production design. Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”, Beck commendably uses the production-design of a haunted house to capture religious missionaries questioning identity. Throughout the film, Mr. Reed’s house plays pivotal roles showing tensions faced by religious missionaries. For instance, the set-design of the house elevates the monopoly scene. During this frightening scene, Mr. Reed humiliates the sisters by comparing Mormon religion to a monopoly game in a way that’s insulting. It reminded me of my grandmother that lost faith in religion to which she had been devoted as memory deteriorated. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. It gives the film a frightening atmosphere capturing the painful burden that religious missionaries bear. Using phenomenal production, Beck captures religious missionaries that experience tension.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Heretic” is a horror classic that is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and deftly uses silence to capture the lives of religious kids unaired that face violence. Evoking John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place”, Beck employs silence to capture hardships that sisters which seek to support religion face. For instance, the silence enhances the basement scene. During this intense scene, Sisters Barnes and Paxton are trapped within the secluded basement of Mr. Reed causing disaster. It reminded me of my silent attitude growing distant from a grandmother I once appreciated as her memory evaporated. Silence isn’t a simple technique to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” claimed, silence elevates historic dramas about the Holocaust. Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” demonstrated that silence elevates horror movies about isolation. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a sensational screenplay, Beck captures the lives of religious monarchies facing tension.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Hugh Grant delivers one of the best performances of his career as Mr. Reed. Grant earned appreciation for playing heroes of romantic comedies in the 1990’s. With “Heretic”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a heretic with strong views against religions causing adversity, but Grant succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and frightening in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and diabolical personality of a religious heretic. It’s a powerful performance from one of the best British actors working today.
While the film is mainly a stunning showcase for Hugh Grant, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of recognition. Sophie Thatcher is brilliant, capturing the terror of a teenage girl questioning her faith in a controversial religion that causes disaster. Chloe East is captivating, capturing a teen girl affected by religious identity causing tragedy. Lastly, Topher Grace merits appreciation. As a religious paster, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “Heretic” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing the lives of teens facing situations that are tragic. It covers relatable topics such as angst, desperation and trauma which would resonate with appreciate. Viewers don’t need to be members of the Mormon church to appreciate it. The film delivers a heartbreaking message about dangers of religious heretics which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Heretic” is one of those rare films about religion that everyone would definitely without a doubt adore.
Although “Heretic” is undeniably a captivating horror thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Beck’s decisions to integrate subplots about religious cults into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Mr. Reed’s religious cults aren’t as engaging as his interactions with missionaries. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” suggested, cults elevate psychological dramas. Therefore, “Heretic” can’t capture religion in a way that’s authentic.
Nevertheless, fans of Hugh Grant will definitely appreciate “Heretic” and so will movie-goers seeking heartwarming entertainment. A captivating horror classic, it celebrates an actor who has built a legacy that’s iconic.
A captivating portrait of conflicted Mormon missionaries questioning their faith in religions that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder that stories of religion are worth telling with respect in movies that educate audiences about a subject that has all-too-often been ignored in a society where it is considered upsetting.
As strong as Mr. Reed’s desires to become a heretic, it has inspired me to move on years after the tragic end of my relationship with a religious grandmother facing catastrophic memory loss by treasuring positive memories of a commemorated relative that motivated me to accomplish dreams of becoming a film critic.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 