Adding to that list of thought-provoking horror films comes the brand-new film Heretic by directors Scott Beck (65) and Bryan Woods (Haunt). This is not just a film that will have you thinking about what is happening as the plot plays out, it will also provide you with an amazing amount of fodder for some in-depth conversations long after the credits roll.
The film centres around two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher – Prospect) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East – The Fabelmans), who are on an evangelical mission going door to door to spread their faith.
Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they knock on the door of Mr Reed (Hugh Grant – Love Actually). At first he seems like a kindly older man who has a tonne of religious questions. Falling for his guise the pair break protocol and enter the home, after being assured his wife is home as well, and by the time they realise that something is not quite right they find themselves trapped.
All they can do then is play along with Mr Reed’s games while praying that Elder Kennedy (Topher Grace – Spider-Man 3) will work out where they are and come to save them.
Heretic is the kind of movie that works on multiple levels. Not surprisingly the screenplay, also written by Beck and Woods, takes the audience on an intense journey. Like they did with their screenplay for A Quiet Place, they draw you into this world and then have you wondering what is going to happen around every corner.
In order to buck the trend of most horror films, here the Beck/Woods screenplay doesn’t have you wondering whether or not Mr Reed is good or bad, but instead has you trying to work out what his games and questions really mean. The big question is what is his end-game and what methods and pathways will he use to get there.
The other power of this screenplay is the fact that it relies on dialogue and not gore and jump scares to move the plot along. There are some seriously dialogue heavy scenes here that go for 15-20 minutes at a time. It is also not uncommon for Hugh Grant to have to deliver huge monologues throughout the film that at times make the film feel more like a piece of theatre rather than cinema.
It is these moments that not only make this film something special but give the actors something to really play with. Hugh Grant’s Golden Globe nomination for this role was no mistake. This is a true performance for the ages and it is a role that Grant lets totally take over his entire body. Watching Heretic not only makes you no longer see Grant as ‘just a rom com’ actor any more. This along with the films that he has recently been making with Guy Ritchie make you realise that in a way it has taken until now for Grant to show his true potential.
Here he is also well supported by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East. Throughout the film you can see that they are never over-awed acting alongside Grant’s tour de force. Instead they seem to feed off it and use their performances here to really announce themselves to Hollywood. They are certainly actresses that I am sure we will be seeing a lot of in years to come.
The only weakness of Heretic for me was the finale. Towards the end of the film the intelligent dialogue seems to take a backseat to the filmmakers wanting to really push the supernatural element of the film. And while those scenes do enhance the film’s major question – is any religion real and if so which one – it does also feel less powerful than some of the brilliance in the early stages of the film.
Heretic is not only a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish but it will also leave you asking yourself some deep theological questions internally. An amazing script and stunning performances by its cast makes Heretic one of the real surprises of this year.
Heretic is currently screening in Phuket and is rated ‘18’.
3.5/5 Stars
David Griffiths has been working as a film journalist for over 25 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. He currently hosts a film podcast called The Popcorn Conspiracy. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes accredited reviewer and is an alternate judge for the Golden Globes Awards. You can follow him at Facebook: SubcultureEntertainmentAus