The Wasteland Reviewer

Heretic (2024) Written Review

In a cluttered and overwhelming world of cinema, it is literally impossible to watch it all (trust me…I try). There is a hard balance between rewatching your favorite films, new releases, and films from your ever growing watchlists. But there are so many gems in film history to enjoy so it is a great way to utilize your movie watching time. But how do you decide what to watch? Queue The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends!

 How far will you go to understand our real purpose here and how we got here? Religion has been a part of human society for thousands of years and has provided countless people with purpose and focus on life. But there are so many different religions out there…where do we find the truth? Many people just dig into the beliefs that were set in front of them as a child by their family. But there are plenty of people who explore, investigate, and navigate different religions in hopes of finding their defining truth. This is a personal journey for people as they process all the perspectives. But sometimes, life places something or someone in your path which will force you to confront everything you believe. That is the conceit of the latest A24 horror/thriller from writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Heretic. 

This seems to be quite the dense and enriched theological exploration, right? Beck and Woods take quite the blunt and direct approach to confronting and exploring the themes of their latest film, but these mechanisms work so well in the confines of this story. Two young Mormon women (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) process their own beliefs as they do their daily work. But a faithful stop at Mr. Reed’s home (Hugh Grant) leads them down a dark path to the “one true religion”. What stands in front of these two young women is a labyrinthian task (as well as a labyrinthian home) that they must escape. But the only way to get through is to put all they believe to the test thanks to this twisted theologian. The first half of the film is plenty of building tension as our two young protagonists slowly realize they are in trouble and begin to get a “lesson” in the truth of the religion. Even when the story gets bigger, wilder, and bolder, Beck & Woods can keep the audience engaged. The marketing does a great job of keeping many of the events of the film under wraps, which makes it even more unnerving as it plays out. The message is clear and hits you like a sledgehammer but when you have such an arrogant and self-righteous pontificator as your antagonist, that is bound to happen. 

But how do Beck & Woods keep their audience engrossed and engaged when much of the film is throwing ideas at them? The craftsmanship is off the chart for sure. The camera moves in dynamic ways to hide what needs to be hidden and what needs to be revealed to the audience. The way that every shot is blocked and framed is so intentional and has so much control. Beck & Woods make some interesting decisions for their close-ups when it comes to highlighting special pieces of their actors’ faces. There are layers of unnerving visuals that build tension and make you question what is going on underneath the surface of each scene (even times literally). The sound design is also meticulously created to build tension whether it is a dripping leak or the snowstorm building outside. There are some truly inspired shots that create some great scares. But the best shot in the film defies the logic of the space as the model of Reed’s home is incorporated into a chase sequence. Heretic is not just here to engage your mind through its themes but also through impressive filmmaking as well. 

Who is the real MVP of the film? Hugh Grant. Hands down. Was that even a question? You could tell from the trailer that this actor (experiencing a true renaissance and evolution of his career) was going to tear the house down. Grant comes to play. Not since Paddington 2 has Grant stolen a film through his villainous turn. Reed is an intelligent, manipulative, intense, and self-righteous individual with so much material for Grant to sink his teeth into. The way he manipulates these two young women (and the audience) is mesmerizing. The ability to play every line of pontificating so well says so much about Grant’s ability as an actor. Then you have the two young actors who go toe-to-toe with him. Sophie Thatcher adds so much to Sister Barnes with some impressive facial reactions and body language. There is something mysterious underneath the surface and Thatcher sells that so well. When Sister B steps up, you can feel the presence and confidence that Thatcher is injecting into her performance. Chloe East is challenged with such an impressive arc, and she sells each step. East shows her vulnerability and submissiveness at the start of the film so well. The way she slowly grows into a strong and confident woman by the end is quite impressive because East sells it all. 

Is Heretic the next great horror film in this impressive year for the genre? A24 still shows that they make the most creative and thought-provoking horror films in the business. Heretic is rich in themes and impeccably crafted. Grant is honestly worth the price of admission himself, but Thatcher and East come to play as well. The directing/writing combo of Beck & Woods have a promising future if this is the type of tale they can spin for us.