Heretic

2024
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East,  Topher Grace, and more.

The slasher subgenre that revolves around malevolent geniuses orchestrating sadistic games—popularized by Silence of the Lambs and the Saw franchises—finds its latest iteration in Heretic. The film, at first, looks like it will rise above the tropes, thanks to Hugh Grant’s compelling portrayal of Mr. Reed, an affable yet sinister antagonist. Grant twists his trademark charm into a unique brand of unsettling nice-guy menace, delivering a performance that elevates the film. Briefly. But, his acting chops can only carry Heretic so far. The story eventually falls victim to genre clichés and uneven direction from duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

The story centers on Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), who visit Mr. Reed, a seemingly curious man interested in their faith. What begins as an innocent exchange quickly spirals into a nightmare when Reed locks the sisters in his home and subjects them to psychological torment. The plot, while initially engaging, collapses into a series of improbable twists that prioritize shock value over story coherence.

At its core, Heretic tries to explore theological and philosophical debates about faith, control, and power. Reed’s manipulations are a thinly veiled critique of authoritarianism and religious dogma. While the premise is intriguing, the film just can’t balance its commentary with its horror elements. The extended monologues about religion and control—peppered with bizarre tangents on topics like Monopoly and Radiohead’s “Creep”—drag the the story down further, making it feel a lot longer than its 111 minutes.

One of the film’s greatest weaknesses is its inability to escape the same dynamics it aims to critique. Reed’s orchestrations mirror the directors’ own heavy-handed manipulation of the plot and characters. The sisters, while ostensibly the protagonists, often feel like pawns in a game designed to showcase the antagonist’s cleverness and the filmmakers’ ingenuity. Its an approach that undermines the tension and robs the story of genuine emotional impact.

The portrayal of Reed as a hyper-intelligent mastermind perpetuates a common trope in this subgenre: the glorification of evil as cunning and calculated. It ends up feeling disconnected from reality, where cruelty often stems from incompetence and privilege rather than brilliance. Because of this, Heretic risks romanticizing its villain and and making the protagonists and their struggle a lot less relatable.

Despite Hugh Grant’s standout performance, Heretic just couldn’t pull it off. The film’s attempts at philosophical depth are overshadowed by predictable twists and heavy-handed direction. While it may appeal to fans of the genre, its inability to fully engage with its themes leaves it feeling hollow. For a story that aims to critique control and manipulation, Heretic ironically succumbs to both.

Isabella Jordan