Heretic (2024)

★★★★

Never before has pondering theology been so devilishly entertaining - and amen to that! Heretic is a masterpiece of modern horror. Creepy, taut, and brilliantly written, Heretic is an unnerving psychological horror that will both entertain and challenge you. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ deft hands craft something so fucking good, something truly remarkable — a deep and profound look at the decisions we make, the power of control, and iterations of religion. The movie itself is great, but I absolutely adore this intellectually stimulating screenplay most of all. It’s an ingenious script that will shake your religious beliefs to their core as it ponders religious truth while also filling you with a deep sense of dread. A battle of wills as intellectualism and spirituality go head to head under the most tense and terrifying of circumstances. It begins as a simplistic yet effectively-written thriller and slowly transforms into something a lot darker, as this screenplay peels back the curtain on religious perspectives and how far your ideology can take you. While the movie eventually trades in simplicity for convoluted ideas and rides a generic line in the third act, it still leaves a lasting impact… I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw it. The film is darkly humorous with a masterful handle on tone and escalating tension even if it becomes too elaborate for its own good by the end.

Heretic had no right to be as good as it was. To be frank, I was blown away. A horror film that focuses on religion and the different ideologies behind it, it manages to grab onto you and never let go over 110 minutes, utilizing its one location to perfection. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East prove once again why they deserve more roles, but the legendary Hugh Grant gives an Oscar-worthy performance and steals the show, taking all of his acting ticks and tricks that usually make him so charming, turning them on their ear, making him positively diabolical. His devilish charm has never been put to better use in what is easily one of his best performances. I was blown away by Hugh Grant here — he has so much fun with this dense, sadistic material. Writers/directors Beck and Woods killed it and genuinely deserve a Best Original Screenplay nomination! Heretic is easily the best horror film I’ve seen so far this year! It is a thrilling and surprisingly funny exploration of religion, control, and belief. 

(I also have to mention I really appreciated the land recognition and “No Generative AI was used in the making of this film” statements included in the credits — I love to support films that both respect the places they filmed at as well as were made by human artists!)

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Premise: Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.

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A24

Written & Directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods

Cast: Hugh Grant, Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher, Topher Grace

Runtime: 1hr 51min

Rating: 14A

Horror, Thriller

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IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

RT Audience Score: 77%

RT Critic Average: 7.4/10

RT Audience Average: 3.9/5

Metacritic Score: 71

CinemaScore: C+

Letterboxd: 3.5/5

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Fun Fact: Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East were both raised Mormon so were able to give valuable insight into the religion when shooting the movie. They are both no longer Mormons.

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