Heretic – REVIEW

As a seasoned cinephile who’s weathered countless Sunday morning Mormon knocks and the ensuing existential crises, I can confidently say that Heretic resonates deeply with my life experiences. The film masterfully portrays the unsettling dynamic between faith, reason, and the human psyche, which is a theme I’ve encountered more times than I care to remember.

In some years, we lived together with college friends who had also graduated, and every Sunday morning, after a big night out on Saturday, we’d often find the Mormons at our door asking if we wanted to meet Jesus. This became a recurring irritation as they would show up at our doorstep just an hour after we returned home. To stop this unwanted Sunday morning disturbance, we started answering the door in our natural state. This was certainly an off-putting sight for anyone trying to engage in conversation with someone in such a state. Our response to their question about wanting to meet Jesus was even more surprising when we told them He was already there, in the kitchen having coffee. They never returned after that encounter. In this story, it’s not Mr. Reed who answers the door naked but rather invites Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Sophie East), two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, into his home after previously inquiring about more information from them.

As they learn his wife is baking blueberry pie in the kitchen, they agree to enter, relax, and start conversing. The games are about to commence. Initially, the conversation begins as a lively discussion with various opinions exchanged. However, it gradually escalates into a potentially dangerous situation that seems impossible to escape from. Their fear of being impolite to him further endangers their personal safety.

Fundamentally, Heretic centers around three main characters, and Hugh Grant has convincingly moved away from romantic comedies, displaying a mix of initial charm, endearment, slight quirkiness, but eventual profound disturbance in this role. Grant delivers an outstanding performance that showcases his instability, with the last decade witnessing him reaffirming his status as one of our exceptional actors through a variety of films such as Florence Foster Jenkins, Paddington 2, Dungeons & Dragons, and The Gentlemen. His talent is equally met by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, who skillfully respond to his claim that they’ve constructed their lives on a falsehood.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who are known for their work on the Quiet Place trilogy, skillfully create a tense atmosphere in Heretic, although the tension may not hold throughout the climax. However, this horror film stands out as superior with its thought-provoking elements, making it one of the year’s most impressive films.

Here’s the Heretic trailer……

2024-10-31 03:23

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