Heretic (2024)
Lesson One: If someone invites you into their house and then informs you that the walls and ceiling have metal in them, assume this individual is up to no good and vacate the premises as quickly as possible.
That’s what Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes should have done in an ideal world, but in Heretic, absolutely nothing is ideal. Well, not from certain points of view, anyway. For those of us observing the proceedings, things are unnervingly peachy.
Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes are Mormon missionaries trying to drum up interest in the Mormon church via talking to people on the street and doing house-to-house visitation. It’s a thankless job and they’re mostly ignored, well, except for the teenage girls who pull Sister Paxton’s skirt down to see if she’s wearing Mormon “magic underwear.”
Then our two intrepid sisters come to a house on a seemingly deserted street. It seems clean though a little deserted, and when they knock on the door there’s no answer at first, but then a light pops on and out steps Mr. Reed, a very charming Englishman who invites the two sisters in. His wife is in the kitchen baking a blueberry pie.
Mr. Reed is not only charming, but he also seems to be trying too hard. His questions go from friendly to invasive. As he keeps disappearing to see about his wife and that pie, Sisters Barnes and Paxton start getting suspicious. They also realize their cell phone doesn’t work (Metal in walls and ceilings can create a Faraday cage). They’re all ready to leave when they remember Mr. Reed has their coats and bike lock key.
Oh, and the front door won’t open. Oh, and there’s a blinding snowstorm outside.
The sisters are more and more freaked by the minute as they also realize Mr. Reed wants them to renounce religion or literally die trying, and he has an elaborate system in place, including dark, dank basements and creepy mind games. He’s done this before. Many times.
Wow. I’ve read articles that say Heretic is an attack on religion, and it mostly is, but I don’t know if it’s retribution so much as it’s Mr. Reed being a hateful wackjob serial killer. Kinda like John Wayne Gacy only without the clown makeup and with a lot more gaslighting. Anyone could easily become this guy’s prisoner and not live to tell the tale. Going inside a house with metal in the ceilings and walls can definitely make that possible.
Hugh Grant is a terrific villain. I’ve been ambivalent about him in the past because he always felt a little bit bland and one-note, but here he’s disarmingly effective and his performance is great. He’s ably matched by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as our hapless sisters, who, even while they’re scared out of their wits, have the presence of mind to answer Mr. Reed back and even challenge him.
What’s also extremely effective is the way Heretic buries the lede. It’s obvious Mr. Reed is a bad guy, but by the time we fully realize it, it’s too late. After a while, it’s easy to feel as captive as Sisters Barnes and Paxton; we want them to somehow make it out of that house of horrors. The movie teases us with the outside world, because we see that storm raging outside and know there’s no way anyone can hear screaming. Even when one of the elders from the local Mormon church comes looking for the sisters and is more or less politely told there’s nothing to see at Mr. Reed’s house.
As well done as it is, though, I wouldn’t freely recommend Heretic, simply because, horror elements aside, it makes points that not everyone is going to feel comfortable answering. Some things Mr. Reed is right about, and others are just his wackjob self talking, but the movie acts as if it’s right about everything and no one can refute it. This is not only presumptuous but myopic (See more about the movie’s theological problems here).
As a Christian, I can safely say that Christianity is not about religion but about the relationship I have with Jesus and my acknowledgement of His death and resurrection. Questioning belief isn’t a bad thing; it often strengthens faith. However, if someone lacks knowledge, wisdom or maturity, they will naturally be more open to flimflam, and Heretic has flimflam in spades.
Heretic is currently in theaters. Rated R.
My grade: C+
Principal Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young, Julie Lynn Mortensen, Haylie Hansen, Elle McKinnon, Hanna Huffman, Anesha Bailey, Miguel Castillo, Stephanie Lavigne, Wendy Gorling, Carolyn Adair, River Codack.
Written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.