Directors: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East
‘A Haunting Horror Classic’
Not many actors have made movies audiences value like Hugh Grant. Following rise to fame in the 1990’s, Grant has created a strong legacy. Whether it’s bookstore owners, prime ministers or wealthy businessmen, Grant has portrayed countless strong characters. Arguably, Grant’s greatest strength as an actor has always been his undying commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors which has always poured his heart and soul into every role. Grant hasn’t ever been afraid of taking risks in his career by playing complex characters that aren’t always likeable. Through his abilities to craft powerful characters that audiences can easily relate to, Grant has become a beloved actor audiences value. An actor with larger than life presence, Grant has created unforgettable movies which have often attracted a big audience. A British icon, Grant has become an actor whose iconic films audiences cherish. Throughout his strong career, Grant has made many memorable films that are definitely without a single doubt worth talking about.
Now, Grant is back on the big-screen and his strengths as a fantastic actor with the ability to portray iconic characters is evident in his latest film “Heretic”. Released in 2024, Scott Beck’s film showcased religion. Packed with breathtaking production design, engrossing storytelling and engrossing acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made about religion. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Hugh Grant, who portrays a controversial heretic seeking to manipulate young women. Ultimately, what makes “Heretic” a timeless classic is its bold appeal. Unlike most movies in the horror genre, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a strong message about dangers of religious doubts that resonates with everyone. A captivating horror classic about religion, there are many strong reasons why “Heretic” is a great movie that is definitely without a single doubt worth watching.
“Heretic” follows two tragic missionaries that become victims of a religious heretic. Sophie Thatcher portrays Sister Barnes, a Mormon missionary that is passionate about doing her job effectively. Assisted by her longtime friend Paxton (Chloe East), Barnes seeks to spread her religious beliefs that she has appreciated. Barnes has always excelled at doing her job in embarking her religious identity. However, her religious faith is tested when he meets a man that causes disaster. Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) is a diabolical man with strong views regarding religion affecting his ability to succeed. What appears to be a joyous visit soon becomes a disaster when Mr. Reed causes terror. As all odds are stacked against her favour, Sophie begins to wonder whether it’s possible for her to overcome disaster. Faced with a dilemma, Sophie questions whether she would ever be able to overcome religious doubts that cause trauma.
Scott Beck is a newcomer towards themes of religious doubt. 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. Through captivating cinematography, Beck captures a pair of bold religious missionaries which endure adversity. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes as memorable as religious meetings Mr. Reed seeks to organize. Inspired with David Fincher ’s “Se7en”, Beck successfully uses low-key lighting to capture tensions that religious missionaries are facing. For instance, the low-key lighting enhances the house entrapment scene. During this memorable scene, Sisters Barnes and Paxton face tensions when they discover they have been locked in Mr. Reed’s house. Through low-key lighting, Beck creates a pair of religious missionaries that audiences can easily relate to. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique. As Paul King’s “Wonka” suggested clearly, low-key lighting elevates movie about chocolate makers. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Beck captures the frightening tensions that religious missionaries are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Heretic” which merits appreciation is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Beck effectively uses set-design of a house to capture the lives of missionaries that decline. Throughout the film, Mr. Reed’s house plays a pivotal role 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 through comparing their religion to a monopoly game that’s confusing. Through strong production-design, Beck captures the struggle of religious missionaries that decline. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. Chris Bacon’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burden that religious missionaries bear. Using phenomenal production, Beck captures lives of anxious 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. Beck’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to use silence to capture religious missionaries in a stressful situation. Inspired by 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. Through scenes of silence, Beck creates religious characters that audiences can easily relate to. 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 silence enhances shining 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 his finest career performances. Grant first achieved praise plating action heroes classic literature adaptations. With “Heretic”, however, he took his best role, this actor took on his most. Stressful role. It isn’t simple to portray a man there expresses strong religious views but he succeeds tremendously: this is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, emotional and vulnerable in us most iconic role. Grant has spent most of his career by playing commemorated likeable heroes with sympathy. With “Heretic”, he showcased strong dramatic range he hadn’t shown website in his commemorated career. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors working in Hollywood today.
While the film is mainly a stunning showcase for Hugh Grant, the duo parting scenes are also amazing and worthy of recognition. Sophie Thatcher is brilliant, capturing 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. Unlike most movies about religion, it tackles universal themes that everyone would relate to. 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 strong message about bosses which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Mickey 17” is one of those rare sci film blockbusters that everyone would 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 organization of religious cults aren’t as engaging as his interactions with missionaries. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” suggested, religious cults elevate psychological dramas. Therefore, “Heretic” falls short of capturing 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 the frightening tensions that religious missionaries questioning their faiths are facing, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for his abilities to portray compelling characters in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 