“Heretic”
R/Horror/Thriller/111 Mins
Directed/Written By: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”), Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”), Chloe East (“The Fabelmans”)
Review: The most effective type of horror, the real type of terror that gets under your skin and rattles your bones is the horror of suspense and uncertainty. If a film can unsettle you without the use of excessive bloody violence every 10 mins, it’s a damn good horror film as well as a very smart film. Oh yes, there will be blood, but this film prefers to express its horror through strong writing and atmosphere.
“Heretic” follows two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes & Sister Paxton, doing their normal door-to-door route of trying to convert people to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the end of their shift, they stop at the house of a British man named Mr. Reed. Reed at first seems like a kind and gentle older man, open to hearing about their religion and beliefs. However, as their conversation goes on, the two Sisters realize that they are a part of his secret plan of trying to teach them about his religion, what he calls the one “true religion.” Locked inside the metal walls of his house, Barnes & Paxton must now try to survive the night using their intellect and beliefs if they plan on escaping this devout deranged maniac.
What caught me by surprise was how the film for most of its runtime was dialogue-heavy. That’s not a criticism as the writing is constantly interesting and the conversation every character has with one another is engaging. Whether it’s a debate about two different religions featuring a hilarious metaphor involving a Monopoly board game, a more serious approach if they believe in God because they were told at an impressionable age or even what fast food is the best. All these conversations regardless of its subject are centered around religion. Since the concept and the conversation can be difficult to navigate, this film touches on this subject in a way that is intelligent, darkly funny and terrifying. I will also say this film has some of the most satisfying payoffs I’ve experienced in the theater this year. The film is at its most riveting when they have these back and forth of debates mixed with psychological warfare. It makes them think, and as an audience member it made myself think, long after I left the theater.
In this very small ensemble, each one has their moments to shine and they are all tremendous. The most sinister is Grant as Mr. Reed, he is disarmingly charming at first, the type of person that anyone could trust at first which is what makes him dangerous. Even when he’s revealing his true intentions, he has an almost playful side that is relishing in this horrific experiment. His performance grabs your attention and refuses to let go. Sophie Thatcher is incredible as the leading sister, yet the film’s secret weapon is Chloe East as Sister Paxton. Initially, Paxton comes off as the more devout of the two, she also is kind and a little naive, the type of character you assumed wouldn’t last long in a horror film. As the horrors of the night are presented to them, you start to see the “fight or flight” reactions from her character. By the end, she is not the super bubbly person she was in the beginning. Paxton definitely has the strongest character arc in the entire film. Chloe East makes this film hers and she is definitely someone to keep an eye out for, you’re gonna be seeing her in loads of projects after this.
I am a huge fan of Beck & Woods’ previous film, the vastly underrated “Haunt” so anytime they make a horror film, I’m there day one. Here they are two for two (3 for 3 if you count their screenplay for “A Quiet Place”). “Heretic” is one of the year’s best horror films, it may not be the ultra-gory splatter fest but it’ll linger in the mind, and isn’t that even more terrifying?
Score: 9/10
“Heretic” is out in theaters November 8th.
