A surprisingly moody, well-paced horror, written like a debate rather than scares-per-second.

Two Mormon missionaries arrive at a house owned by a religiously-curious man. However, once they enter, they find this man to have unsettling ulterior motives…

Written and directed by duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (creators behind 65 with Adam Driver) and starring Sophie Thatcher (The Boogyman) Chloe East (The Fabelmans) and Hugh Grant (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) Heretic is an excellent horror movie. But perhaps excellent because of its bucking of standard trends in the genre.

Thatcher and East play Sisters Barnes and Paxton respectively. They are both dutiful missionaries who, despite some naivete on Paxton’s part, struggle on despite hostilities towards them. Introduced with a conversation about “poronography”, as Paxton awkwardly calls it, they are humble enough in their task. The pair are following up on individuals who have shown interest in converting. Paxton is especially eager to convert someone to their faith, while Barnes is somewhat reserved.
When they meet Mr Reed (Grant) he seems jovial, kindly and a little forgetful. While he announces their arrival to his wife, somewhere in the house, things get unorthodox after the front door closes.

Certainly, front and centre, Hugh Grant is having a ball as Mr Reed. The man seems to be enjoying a chance to play creepy, unorthodox characters. From this to Dungeons & Dragons, even the Oompa Loompa in 2023’s Wonka. Here, a lot of the onus is on him; the premise revolves entirely around this character and what exactly is going on with him. He is magnetic and we hang on his every surreal word and mannerism.
Barnes and Paxton are greeted by a man who seems very well read in religious texts. At first shake, this reciprocation is welcome; it is a fair bit better than the harassment they might otherwise get. His interests in religious doctrine go on and on. There’s surprising levity in this tension, including a scene about music.

This is perhaps where some audiences won’t gel with Heretic. A large portion of the film’s runtime is discussion between the anomalous Mr Reed and two missionaries of the Mormon faith. The discussions are as fascinating as they are worrying in their escalations. Reed’s questions are seemingly random, fleeting thoughts, but like cold fingertips they carefully escalate into a vice-like grip.

It is a battle of wits and of faith. An examination of what it is to believe in something, and what it means to critique those who do.

The film has plenty of spooks, of course. But the screenplay is excellent; it doesn’t ramp up exaggeratedly, worried the audience is falling asleep. No, it keeps its unsettling, relaxed pace. There are hardly any jump scares; it isn’t interested in those. It would rather give chilly atmosphere and a helplessness to our two characters’ situation. All in service of a tight, effective theme.

Heretic is one of those horror films where the initial threshold is the hardest suspension of disbelief. The two women have to enter the house for the story to begin. You might say: there’s no way I’d go in there. But the film’s screenplay acquits itself in this quite nicely; you can forgive these two, caught in a storm and anxious to meet a likeminded person.

Overall, Heretic is an excellent movie. It has threat, and blood, and some frights, but it is more of a modern debate on religion. Whatever your views, you might find yourself having multiple perspectives on Mr Reed’s opinions, and for the Sisters as well.