USA | Canada 2024
Opening December 26, 2024

Directed by: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck
Writing credits: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck
Principal actors: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East

Two young girls are ringing doorbells to share information about their religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aka the Mormon Church. They are Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher), now talking with Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) at his front door. It is raining; the girls are wet, and Mr. Reed invites them into the house. They hesitate to enter a room alone with a man, but he assures them that his wife is in the kitchen, baking a blueberry cake. Inside, the atmosphere becomes precarious. The smell of blueberry originates from a candle; the front door is now locked, not to be reopened until the next morning; the lights go out and there is no reception on their mobile phone. “Leaving” becomes more like “escaping” which they might do through one of two doors, one marked “Belief” and the other “Disbelief.” Both doors open, not into the garden, but into a labyrinth in the cellar. 

A heretic is “someone who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine” (according to my Webster’s dictionary). “How has God shown you that the church is true?” Sisters Paxton and Barnes are certain about their beliefs, but then the atmosphere changes until “prayers don’t work” and there is only one real religion, that of “control.” From the attractive personalities of two innocent young girls, we move to a “horror-thriller.” Heretic features three excellent actors: Grant, Thatcher, and East, with only rare, short appearances of supporting actors, e.g., one man who is looking for the girls. In which situation does “magic underwear” serve as a code word? What about playing Monopoly? Six songs support the action, including “The Air That I Breathe” sung by the Hollies, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses, as well as songs by the band Creed. Heretic should definitely be on your list, especially if you are looking for a scary activity to jumble up the “peaceful” Christmas holidays. It premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (Becky T.)

Another Opinion by Marinell H.

Intelligently written, creatively directed and stunningly suspenseful, the less you know going in, the better to appreciate Heretic’s evil genius. Its lead-in sequence is a dead give-a-way, this ain’t your usual horror genre flick. It also introduces two of the three main characters, the Sisters Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Paxton (Chloe East). Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, i.e., the Morman Church, the two young women are working to convert and spreading the word; one sister has converts to her credit, while the other desperately wants her first baptism. Late afternoon and with the weather conditions rapidly deteriorating, they approach the set-back home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), who requested information, little realizing the menacing maze they are entering. A sly devil, he lures them in with pie and a shy wife, followed by a lively and disarming religious conversation peppered with puns and analogies. To provoke their reaction Mr. Reed highlights the visit with a board games comparison.

Writers-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’s chilling psychological cliffhanger relies on dialogue and delivery to attain, then maintain the tension, apprehension, and perverse fascination during the cat and mouse chase through the house’s warren of rooms, and verbal labyrinth of deceptions and counter deceptions. Grant, Thatcher, and East’s brilliant performances give credence, excelling in projecting minutia of emotions for the ultimate effect. With hooded eyes fixedly watching the women’s movements, Grant oozes charm, his maneuverings leonine chasing phantoms for his captive audience while baiting, using misdirection and pregnant pauses for emphasis during loaded spoken sorties and skirmishes. Thatcher and East’s innocence—that tends to slip-slide—and trust shrinks to survival; both discover strengths that complement the other’s so they not only parry but grasp nuanced implications, modulating their actions accordingly, albeit surprises never cease.

Behind-the-camera allure permeates the film: cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung’s subtlety laid out clues and red herrings, close-ups qualifying emotional nefariousness, and slight-of-hand action that is superbly edited by Justin Li. Whether the creaking floorboards, clock ticking, gulps, gasps, or catching of one’s breath, Eugenio Battaglia’s sound design adds volumes to audiences’ visceral experience. Music supervisor Natasha Duprey’s tunes, and Chris Bacon’s score balance out the confusion, pathos. Heretic’s formidableness cleverly, captivatingly and surely ensnares its viewers. 110 minutes