Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East
Screenplay: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
110 mins. Rated R.

Heretic has been becoming one of the most talked about horror films of the year, with rave reviews coming out of various film festivals and early screenings, and a gimmick tied to some theaters presumably to heighten audience attendance over later couch-viewings. It features what’s been called the most villainous character Hugh Grant (Glass Onion) has ever played (have they not seen Cloud Atlas, people?), and for good reason, and he’s surely the main reason to seek this one out, but Heretic contains more ideas and general discussion than most studio films, and it’ll stay with you long after the credits roll.

Mormon missionaries Sisters Barnes (Sophie Thatcher, The Boogeyman) and Paxton (Chloe East, The Fabelmans) are spreading the word of the church when they arrive at the home of Mr. Reed (Grant), a diabolical man who wants to see them truly prove their faith.

Heretic is an exemplary showcase for Grant’s abilities to chew scenery and spit dialogue, wonderfully matching the writing of collaborative team Scott Beck & Bryan Woods (Haunt), who have given him plenty of opportunity to own the screen. The horror of Heretic is almost entirely derived from the tension that builds in the conversation between Reed and his house guests. There are large sequences with just three people talking in rooms, and I’m not complaining. Putting myself in the characters of Barnes and Paxton, I could also see how utterly terrifying Reed’s confrontation and argument would be if he could prove it. The way that Beck & Woods use their concept is excellent, and the pacing reflects that nicely.

Much like Jordan Peele’s Us, the concept and how it’s used is so good that you can forgive the fact that it could fall apart like a house of cards if you start picking it apart, and that’s likely to be the reason for any division in reaction. There are a few things in Mr. Reed’s plan that didn’t quite connect to me, and more than a few things that he’s relying on Barnes & Paxton to act a certain way or make a certain choice for his plan to work, and while the screenplay does address that with a portion dedicated to Mr. Reed coming up with a new wrinkle to his plan on the fly, that part of the film felt rather clunky and, honestly, out of character. Thankfully, it leads to a climax that makes full use of that captivating concept which uplifts some of the more ludicrous elements.

As a potential viewer, you may be asking: is Heretic anti- or pro-religion? I can understand. I’m a person of faith who is not afraid to be confronted by other takes, and I don’t impose my beliefs on others, but I was curious what the final stand of Heretic would be on, and I can only say there’s a murkiness to the conclusion. I found the film to be fairly anti-organized religion, but not inherently anti-faith. I believe all three characters question their stances a few times throughout the film (I can’t get into details due to potential plot spoilers), without the narrative giving an overall impression at the end, one way or the other. I firmly believe that people of faith will watch the film and affirm their faith, and I also believe people on the opposite side of the spectrum will find the film to be anti-religion, and that doesn’t really bother me. Films are art, meant to question, meant to confront, and I walked away firmly impressed at how the script maneuvers these waters. Regardless, as a board game enthusiast, I was giggling at the comparison Mr. Reed makes between religion and Monopoly.

I also want to touch on the gimmick. Some theaters will be fitted with scent-releasing tech to coincide with a specific moment in the movie. At my press screening, I was surprised and enticed with this William Castle-esque approach to getting people back in the theater, but if your theater is not doing this, it’s okay. It didn’t positively or negatively impact my viewing and overall reception. I just really like that we’re trying some ideas to preserve the theatrical experience.

Heretic is a film about iterations and repetition; Mr. Reed brings this up with religions, music, board games, and commonly attributed quotations, and how each copy changes the meaning without really improving upon it, and Reed is one of the most excellently realized character of this decade in horror. It’s not an easy watch, but I was utterly captivated. The concept is utilized well even if elements of the structure are barely held together. That being said, I think this is one of the most unique and peculiar films in the genre is some time, firmly cementing Reed as an iconic character and Beck & Woods as filmmakers to continue watching.

3.5/5
-Kyle A. Goethe