Heretic Review: A Cerebral, Cat-and-Mouse Horror!

On the surface, Heretic is set up to look like a cat and mouse thriller/horror film where two young Mormon girls must escape after being locked in a strange man’s house. However, the truth lies in the film as it unfolds to possess a much more philosophical and theological tale about belief and control.

The plot of Heretic begins with Sister Barnes (Sophia Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), two Morman missionaries, who are doing their daily rounds in nearby neighborhoods, providing individuals more information on their religion and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On a scheduled visit to Mr. Reed’s (Hugh Grant) house Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton find themselves trapped in a deadly game at the hands of Mr. Reed, who is looking to teach them much more than they could imagine.

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In a film that explores the concept of iterations to original texts, music, film, etc, Heretic distances itself from the religious horror films in its genre, proving that something new and fresh is easier to get sucked into than constant rehashings of familiar tropes.

Heretic opens up the opportunity to explore two types of horror, the terrors of the possibility of living under false circumstances and beliefs your entire life and the physical horrors of being locked in a creepy man’s basement with the possibility of death. Both are drastically different but both lead to extreme dread and fear, especially for Sister Barnes and Paxton, who have grown up in the Mormon church their whole lives.

The first half of the film is presented to be dialogue heavy with deep theological insights coming from Hugh Grant’s lengthy monologues and discussion with the girls. Directors Beck and Woods create a harrowing atmosphere placing the audience on the couch right next to the two girls, feeling the discomfort of not knowing Mr. Reed’s end game, which is certainly not to expand his knowledge on the Mormon Church.

As the two girls ask for Mr. Reed’s wife to be present as they speak, the obvious inclination that Mr. Reed’s wife is not in the house creates a familiar fear for any woman in such a circumstance. This only begins the film, already creating an eerie aura to a film that has only scratched the surface of its exploration.

Heretic is a rare film that harnesses the ideas within its script and utilizes them in a way that allows its audience to self-reflect on their own beliefs on spirituality and religion. In a way, what one believes has the ability to dictate how they view the film, whether that be anti-religion, pro-religion, or somewhere in the middle. It explores the concept of truth versus belief and whether these two concepts go hand in hand or if belief is more powerful in the absence of truth.

What may appear to be a film with a distinct viewpoint, the direction and subtle moments presented within it open up its audience to decide for themselves which side they find themselves on, if any. Heretic indicates that there will always be signs to believe one side of a subject versus the other. In the end, it all comes down to an individual’s belief that will dictate what signs they wish to look at and which to ignore.

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Heretic features a fantastic performance by Hugh Grant, who appears to have found a role that suits his abilities and interests surpassing his recent roles in children’s films. Sophie Thatcher who is known for her roles in horror like The Boogeyman and Yellowjackets is much more reserved in this film, displaying her potential as a dramatic actor. However, it is Chloe East who is the standout of this film possessing a naive demeanor matched with a more intelligent and cunning side as the film heads towards its conclusion.

Heretic distances itself in its own genre by adding psychological, philosophical, and theological elements to an already frightening script and opens up a deep commentary that, although won’t change the minds of those watching with their own pre-established beliefs, paints two sides of a complex concept to think about when walking out of the theater.

‘Heretic’ Rating – 3.5/5

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