A wicked Hugh Grant turn, plus Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East’s portrayals of donning dread and innocence, help Heretic overcome some third-act issues in this religious-tinged psychological thriller.
Two films, Conclave in October 2024 and Heretic in November tackle religion and the struggle to rationalize one’s faith. Conclave is a better-written film overall, as the correlation between the church and politics is far more conclusive than the film Heretic morphs into in the third act. However, Grant’s performance towers over all of the outstanding performances in Conclave.
Heretic Overview and Star Rating
Two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Barnes (Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), arrive at a house ready to share the good Gospel. Unfortunately, the house owner, Mr. Reed, delivers his dose of theology.
Grant is superb as the charming, slightly odd Reed. He disarms the young, devout women by constantly reassuring them before asking them something that tests their beliefs. As Heretic goes along, his attack on their faith blossoms into an argument against all beliefs before morphing into a different religious experience.
Grant is superb as the charming, slightly odd Reed. He disarms the young, devout women by constantly reassuring them before asking them something that tests their beliefs.
Barnes and Paxton exude a sort of blindness from living in a religious bubble at first. Reed attacks their faith with arguments that Barnes and Paxton struggle to refute. At first glance, it seems like neither has the knowledge to combat Reed’s assertions, but that’s not the case. Barnes, in particular, fights back once the situation becomes more tenuous. Paxton radiates more innocence than Barnes, but in the third act show, she’s been paying acute attention the whole time.
Overall, Heretic is a film featuring three great performances and an intriguing religious debate that unspools as it concludes. Here’s a non-spoiler look at the film’s best and worst elements.
Mrs. Reed
In a lesser film, the missionaries’ innocence would render them too trusting. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Heretic.
From the moment they approach Reed’s door, they take precautions. Even in a torrential downpour, they refuse to come inside the house until Reed assures them his wife is baking a pie. The women believe him because the house smells like pie, and this reassurance causes them to let their guard down ever so slightly.
They give Reed their coats and ignore his warning about the home’s metal siding, which blocks phone reception. Unfortunately, once they’re in the house, they can’t leave, so the women must endure Reed’s religious experiment.
Fast Food and Monopoly
Reed presents himself to Barnes and Paxton as a man weary of religion. He uncorks two analogies as the crux of the argument: his perceived issues with religion.
The first is a comparison to fast food. Reed indulges the women by asking about their favorite fast food. This exchange includes a fantastic Freudian slip regarding Wendy’s.
Once it’s clear the women won’t be able to leave through the front door, they follow Reed to his study. In this room, he challenges the women’s beliefs by revealing how these faiths take from one another. To illustrate the concept, he presents The Landlord’s Game, then Monopoly. Park Brothers took the idea from Elizabeth Magie and made a fortune.
Unbelievable Turn
For the first two acts, Heretic is about belief or disbelief in the unknown. Then, in the third act, the film presents a known physical symbol that hampers the film’s debate on faith. Once this symbol is revealed, Heretic becomes a more conventional serial killer thriller, with the women just trying to escape the confines of a madman.
A subplot involving Elder Kennedy (Topher Grace) searching for the two young women is an excuse for Reed to leave the room, nothing more. This subplot either needed more time in the oven or removed altogether. As it is, Kennedy is simply a plot contrivance for Barnes and Paxton.
Heretic Final Thoughts
Heretic is a thoughtful religious thriller that shines brightest when it focuses on Reed’s religious ruminations. The film loses some of its luster in the 3rd act, but the committed performances by Grant, Thatcher and East provide enough illumination to make Heretic a memorable thriller.
The Review
Heretic
PROS
- Hugh Grant delivers a wicked turn and my favorite performance of the year.
- Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East radiate a gentle nauture but are no damsels in distress.
- Amazing Freudian slip regarding Wendy's.
- Interesting test of faith and belief that doesn't take aim at any one religion.
CONS
- Topher Grace subplot is unnecessary.
- 3rd act diminishes the film's focus on belief and unbelief in the unknown.
