Heretic

The case for or against religion has never been as exciting or terrifying as in Heretic. The latest feature from Haunt and 65 directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods pits a highly skeptical theologian against two young Mormon missionaries with disastrous consequences, all while asking its audience provocative—and many times uncomfortable—questions about the world we live in and the beliefs we subscribe to as mortal beings. It does so remarkably well, and the result is a late-year gem of a thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is tense.

Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Chloe East (The Fabelmans) play Sisters Barnes and Paxton, respectively, who are undergoing their mission to gain converts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their next stop, however, will be their most challenging, as they meet the charming Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) at his strangely isolated home. He invites the girls inside to provide shelter from the escalating storm and, under the pretense of being open-minded to their efforts, initiates a deep philosophical conversation that drives the rest of the film.

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As Heretic’s previews suggested, Mr. Reed is not as open-minded as he claims to be and is far creepier than the Sister missionaries perceive. Beck and Woods ramp into this realization masterfully, using subtle visual clues and escalating dialogue to give the audience a taste of what may come later. Indeed, much of the first act is purely dialogue as the Mormon girls attempt to navigate Reed’s difficult questions about religion and their personal beliefs; luckily, the film’s provoking themes, alongside the core trio’s excellent performances, make this introduction highly entertaining.

From there, Heretic wisely puts the pedal to the metal and pushes Sisters Barnes and Paxton further into the eerie home of Mr. Reed. The latter establishes a game of sorts, which prompts some potentially dangerous choices by the girls. In turn, Barnes and Paxton each undergo some necessary character development, forced to confront their beliefs upon Reed’s urging and make impossible decisions in the face of them to ensure their survival.

Courtesy of A24

While Mr. Reed is the clear villain of Heretic, Beck and Wood’s clever script does well to remain relatively neutral in the debates the characters engage in. Though the antagonist is deceitful and ultimately cruel, he raises genuinely thought-provoking points in the name of knowledge. And though the Mormons recognize the flaws of their faith and, in fact, religion as a whole, the film doesn’t downplay the graces of religion through their wills and actions. There are moments of beauty and authenticity in their unwavering devotion.

Heretic plays both sides of the argument well and is a more compelling thriller because of it. Furthermore, the pace gets aided by the constant illusion of choice Mr. Reed presents, adding to the tension, and Grant proves early on that it is simply fun to want to continue watching him in such a conniving role. Thatcher and East play excellent foils, young and innocent but equally steadfast and courageous. In this way, Heretic accomplishes the enviable task of being a modern film that manages some neutrality for the religious argument and establishes young women as strong-willed fighters—particularly in opposition to an older man.

Courtesy of A24

Sadly, Heretic falters a little in its final moments, positing some of the film’s more exceptional theories as subjective reality, but they feel more like a “gotcha” than anything substantial. This decision hurts what made the previous hour-and-a-half so evocative and entertaining, but maybe not to everybody; the suggestions are interesting, to be sure, and some viewers may find the ending profound or better off than they thought.

Regardless, Heretic is a uniquely structured genre flick that effectively talks about religion without beating the audience over the head with any particular agenda; it asks you to consider all angles. At the same time, the film wraps it up with plenty of striking moments, some technical cinematography, and excellent set design. With Heretic on pace for a slightly underwhelming $8-10 million opening, it could be one of the year’s sleeper hits.

Heretic is now playing in theaters nationwide.

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