Review | Heretic

✭✭✭✭
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Hugh Grant
Release Year: 2024

It’s dark, disturbing, and thought-provoking … one of the best films of 2024.

Heretic is terrifying — but not in the way you might expect. A tight, psychological thriller, it revolves around just three characters: two young Mormon missionaries and a sinister older man. Set almost entirely in a single location, the film explores the horror of being trapped against your will, but it’s the moral and existential questions it raises that make it truly unsettling. What happens if you start to agree with the deranged captor? If his views on faith resonate with you, does that make you as dangerous as he is? These are the chilling questions at the heart of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ Heretic, which features one of Hugh Grant’s most memorable performances. It’s dark, disturbing, and thought-provoking, cementing its place as one of the best films of 2024.

The film opens by introducing us to Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), two Mormon missionaries in their early twenties with very different outlooks on their faith. Barnes, new to her role, is strong in her belief but largely indifferent to the opinions of others, while Paxton is the epitome of devoutness, zealously committed to converting others and adhering strictly to church rules. Their conversation reveals the nuances of their personalities — Barnes is more skeptical, Paxton more idealistic — and hints at the tensions that will arise as they face a terrifying challenge. In typical missionary fashion, they discuss their upcoming assignment: the next name on their list is Mr. Reed, a man they are supposed to meet to discuss the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They arrive at his cottage, which, with its cozy, idyllic exterior, evokes the eerie vibes of the witch’s house in Hansel & Gretel or a Thomas Kinkade painting. At first, Reed seems warm and inviting, offering them shelter from the rain. But when he mentions he needs to check on his wife — who, oddly, is baking a blueberry pie (or so he says) — it’s clear that something is off. A blueberry-scented candle, not a freshly baked pie, is the first clue that things aren’t as they seem. Before they realize it, the two women are trapped in Reed’s house, held against their will by a man who has more sinister intentions.

Once the women are ensnared, Heretic shifts from a suspenseful thriller into something even more unsettling. The screenplay, written by Beck and Woods, becomes a maze of psychological tests and moral quandaries. Reed is a highly educated man, well-versed in various religious ideologies, and he has turned his home into a twisted prison — a setting that would make Saw’s Jigsaw proud. Hugh Grant’s performance is a standout here, using his characteristic icy charm to create a chillingly ambiguous character. His cold, emotionless demeanor makes it hard to predict how far he will go to prove his points about faith and belief. “Choose a door,” he tells them. “You have faith, don’t you? Then you should have no fear of what lies beyond.” The film’s central theme is not just survival — it’s the testing of belief itself, and the idea that refusing to abide by faith could lead to fatal consequences.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the most compelling moments of Heretic as the tension builds in unexpected ways. Thatcher and East are fantastic, bringing nuance to their characters as they face increasingly dire circumstances. Their contrasting personalities — Barnes’ quiet strength and Paxton’s fervent devotion — create a dynamic that is both compelling and tragic. The film also offers a brilliant study of body language, capturing how the characters’ religious convictions can both fortify and undermine their sense of safety.

Ultimately, Heretic is one of the freshest horror films in recent memory. It’s a movie that sticks with you long after the credits roll, raising uncomfortable questions about belief, morality, and personal accountability. Its ending is as unpredictable as the world it creates, making Heretic one of 2024’s must-see films. You’ll have to believe me when I say you don’t want to miss this one.

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