Heretic - A Movie Review

Faith won’t save you if you don’t believe in yourself.

After choosing which way into theaters, Heretic is a 2024 film. Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must choose carefully among their beliefs to make it out alive.

Heretic was not what I was expecting. It’s a daring blend of religious debates and suspenseful thrills. The film tests viewers' beliefs, but the horror impact is missing. While its premise is bold craftsmanship, Heretic falters in delivering a cohesive narrative.

Can you believe this is the same Hugh Grant who is famous for the iconic dance in Love Actually? Hugh Grant plays every inch of subtle evil to his character. Grant mentioned this is the toughest character he’s ever had to wrap his mind around. He is excellent in this performance, conveying a new range I want to see more of. With certain revelations, his character should have remained more ambiguous.

Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East worked out a striking dynamic between their characters. Both actresses were driven to the roles by the unusual nature of the script. If you recognize Thatcher, she was seen in the Stephen King film, The Boogeyman. I haven’t seen East in anything else, though she plays strong nuances to her character.

Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton are different in personality and advocation. Despite their differences, they always have arguments ready in their defense. Granted, you should be careful about the strangers you talk to, the girls have clever survival instincts.

The trio should have been the only characters. Minor characters disrupt the story’s flow and also take us out of the setting. Topher Grace has a small role as Elder Kennedy, but it didn’t feel necessary.

Horror directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods pieced a new story together, though it’s complicated what Heretic amounts to. It’s a well-directed film, though who is the main focus? The film’s commentary on religion is intriguing but feels unfinished. Once the film arrived at the trailer’s famous door scene, Heretic lost its steam.

I thought the girls would venture into different rooms or get lost in mazes, encountering possible demons or spirits. The rest of the film takes place in one dark space. Designers missed an opportunity to expand on this house, like with the miniature house set. Imagine if Mr. Reed was watching the girls venture through this set.

What follows is a stagnant narrative that’s not as original. The film reminded me of Barbarian (2022). I don’t want to spoil anything, but the secrets Mr. Reed hides in his house don’t feel like the right approach to this unique storyline.

There was a good story in Heretic that wasn’t fully fleshed out. This shift leaves unexplored potential. The film is intriguing but lacks a compelling story with surprises. I was bored listening to the almost repetitive religious lectures.

Heretic sparks several debates on religion. This is a topic that’s implemented several deep conversations. Religion is a choice along with our beliefs. Depending on your beliefs, this may or may not be the film for you.

The filmmaking style for Heretic experiments different techniques. One character turns an object around but not in the viewer's direction. The most fascinating special effect was the miniature house set tracking a character’s routes in the house.

Heretic is a mixed bag. It has its funny moments and is suspenseful. I may need to watch it again, but everyone will have different opinions on the film.