Heretic
Heretic
A diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) ensnares two young missionaries in his terrifying game of cat-and-mouse when they knock on the wrong door and are forced to prove their faith.
Matthew DiPietro reviewedMarch 30, 2025
Heretic has a killer premise, awesome setup, and the moral stakes compelling.
There’s a particularly intriguing thread running through the middle of the movie—whether the history of religion is just endless iteration - reruns of earlier versions of the same religion. It's the kind of idea you want the film to really dig into, and for a while, it seems like it might.
But then it doesn’t.
In the final act, Heretic starts to unravel. The philosophical debate gets reduced to a surface-level clash of “control vs. faith,” which feels like a missed opportunity given the richer themes earlier on.
That said, Hugh Grant is phenomenal. He brings a deranged gentility to the role that makes every scene he's in electric. It’s a bold casting choice that pays off.
Overall, Heretic is a really solid effort. Even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing, it’s definitely worth the watch. Just be prepared for a third act that doesn’t live up to the promise of the first two.
Final verdict: great setup, intriguing themes, strong performances—especially from Grant—but ultimately kinda meh.