Heretic
Directed by Scott Beck, Bryan WoodsA 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.
Cast of Heretic
Heretic Ratings & Reviews
- angelc8942July 24, 2025Good movie. Makes you think a lot about all religions
- rg9400December 10, 2024Another excellent horror-thriller in a year rife with them. Heretic is a Hitchcock-esque movie, centered around a limited cast in a limited setting with its narrative thrust centered around dialogue-driven tension. Similar setups in recent years include 10 Cloverfield Lane, Split, and a host of others. Bafflingly, the movie opens up a weirdly comedic scene centered on sex whose purpose still eludes me. However, it quickly shifts to Hugh Grant's strange house. Most of the movie centers around him throwing religious thought experiments at the two young missionaries, trying to play mind games with them. As the movie ventures deeper and deeper into his house, things become more unsettling as both the viewer and the characters try to figure out exactly what he wants. The movie takes a lot of twists and turns, but most of it revolves around this dynamic of Hugh Grant's character trying to make some sort of elusive point to these characters. I was not expecting philosophical and religious discussions to be so integral to the movie. While the movie doesn't have jump scares, it does a great job of building atmosphere through its setting and dialogue. At times, the movie can feel a bit far-fetched and over-the-top, but not in a way that broke my immersion. Finally, while the trio of Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East may not have the eye-catching style of acting that anchored a lot of the other excellent horror movies this year, all three of them are great at subtly enhancing their characters. Hugh Grant does an excellent job at playing polite and kind while maintaining that constant sense of creepiness, and Sophie Thatcher's dread and frustration are palpable throughout. However, it is Chloe East who steals the show, managing to cover and convey a wide spectrum of emotions through the entire runtime of the movie. If you enjoy these limited cast, limited setting, dialogue driven thrillers a la Hitchcock, or if you just want to watch a lot of discussions around religion, I highly recommend Heretic.
- DJNovember 16, 2024Absolutely excellent film and beautifully shot. Every word had a meaning so pay full attention to all details. I would rate Grants performance with Lithgow from Dexter. Full dread from minute 1 until the end. Also, if religious topics are your cup of tea this will knock your socks off. Best film of 2024.
- Azrael_FornivaldJune 10, 2025It was like watching a Reddit atheist's wet dream. The horror elements were ok, but not worth the watch.
- Nathan MagretaJuly 17, 2025Really impactful, really thrilling, really good film with great acting.
- Matthias_812April 2, 2025Challenging the perceptions of beliefs, Heretic is the latest a24 joint among a recent burst of religion-centric horror. I love how convincing this can be and challenges the audience to consider from other viewpoints. Hugh Grant was incredible, humble yet uncomfortable at the same time. This thing takes off where you wouldn't expect, it gets real interesting, sadly felt like the ending was a cop out which only diminishes the experience holding it back from further heights.
- M08YJuly 17, 2025The first half of Heretic almost scratches gold. It really does. Unfortunately it doesnt quite last. The latter half of Heretic feels unrefined. It's like all of the focus and intrigue was used up in the first half, devolving into a rather predictable and dark (visually) dissapointment. Seriously, I watched this in daytime and the slightest reflection on my screen rendered scenes unwatchable. The real stand out for this film is the cast. Hugh Grant is absolutely mesmerising, everything about his performance is uncomfortable, he is absolutely terrifying without laying a finger on you. Grant's laid back and polite vibe turns increasingly menacing the longer you are with him. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East both turn in a good performance with much of Thatcher's Sister Barnes feeling like it was left on the cutting room floor. In conclusion, the lack of focus in the latter half of the film really does hold it back from being excellent. Grant's performance is well worth giving Heretic a try.
- dre18104July 14, 2025Great premise. Strong performances from the three main characters. Hugh Grant is excellent. As an aside Mormon missionaries knocked on my door manger years ago and asked me if I believed in Jesus. I invited them on for a cup of tea They refused!.
- 匚卂尺ㄥFebruary 7, 2025A masterclass in acting from Hugh Grant, whose choices of roles in the second part of his career have been staggeringly good. While he was always good as the charming fop he usually played in romantic comedies, his more recent roles have revealed what a deep layer of talent and variety he possesses. Chloe East's performance as Sister Paxton is also a marvelous character arc. No spoilers, but she changes over the course of the story, and I couldn't point to a specific moment when it happened. The photography and score heighten the suspense very effectively. But we really are watching this for Grant, and his Mr. Reed is incredibly nuanced and accomplishes the changes from warmth, to unsettling, to terrifying with the smallest facial movements and inflections of tone. It's a very contained but scary villain. Highly recommended!
- AngusMcNutzNovember 27, 2024Hugh Grant, stopping people outside a 7-11 at 1 am: "Hey man, you ever think about like, God and like, capitalism and society?" He clearly had fun with this role, though. And its the only thing that will help you maintain focus through this trench of a plot
- stuhannafordMay 12, 2025Whilst it perhaps loses its way a little in the final act, Grant’s devilish performance keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout. You are kept guessing about the true nature of ‘truth’, swayed backwards and forwards from door to door, between good and evil, or real and imagined. The build up to the film’s climax is so strong that inevitably, it fails to live up to expectations, but is a film worthy of a second viewing.
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025Oooh this is my sh🤩. Loved every second of this dialogue driven thriller that’s almost like an iteration of Saw, but for religious ideologists. Such a twisted and clever almost philosophical exploration of faith and belief, as well as the role of religion as a means of control. Hugh Grant is excellent but I loved both Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East. Religious horror bias, but this also has one of my other favorite horror tropes. 🤫 Some creative camera work in a few pivotal moments were really cleverly conceived. Thrilling from start to finish. I was so locked in I didn’t even recognize Topher Grace until I saw his name in the credits. Bonus points for the delicious slice of blueberry pie at our screening. That is definitely a first. Highly recommend. Make it a double feature with Conclave, perhaps.
- sgam79June 22, 2025Disappointed. Thought that this would have a much better story line. Hmm it’s ok but pretty mediocre
- ronver1June 14, 2025I expected more horror but it was mainly about the deeper meaning of the movie.
- vangh1June 6, 2025What an absolute up and down, twisty-turny ride. Like the good book our antagonist so blithely bloviates on, it sometimes relies a little too much on wow factor aesthetics and stretches the bounds of credulity. Despite the minor woes in the third act revelations, this is very much a Good Time at the Movies™ Reed's whole schtick, and especially the whole presentation he does on religious inconsistency and plagiarism, is such a perfect portrait of the dangers of absolute belief in one's own clarity and knowledge against the uncertainties of the world. He so clearly depicts how even if one starts from a potentially reasonable and justifiable position, if you embed yourself in it too deeply without consideration, you lose the plot and become at best ignorant and at worst deplorable and dangerous.
