Heretic takes us on a journey most of us have to go through in our lifetimes. In order to grow from a child into an adult, each person has to decide for themselves if they truly believe what they learned from their parents/adults in their lives. This is especially true for religious beliefs which take a great part in shaping each person into who they want to be. Thank goodness, my search was gradual, and took place through college supported by the people I love, not the hellfire the two poor missionaries find themselves unexpectedly in…to the movie delights of audiences everywhere.
Sisters Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Paxton (Chloe East) are on their latest conversion mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (eg the Mormon church). After struggling to find listeners on the street, they get texted a list of addresses of potential eager future Mormons from the church elders. One of those houses belongs to Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant); the two sisters arrive with high expectations they’ve found someone so eager to debate faith. Maybe a little too eager, as they quickly find out…
You gotta love A24’s moxie. Every thriller/horror film they make works on multiple levels. While they’re scaring the bejesus out of us primally, the Heretic is also doing so by also existentially scaring the Sisters, and by proxy the questioning members of the audience. For some, that could be the scariest part of the whole movie, as is makes you completely deconstruct your whole belief system. The movie is one giant test for the audience to dig deep and make themselves be truly honest about why they believe what they believe. And, maybe horrifyingly, you end up on Mr. Reed’s side of this whole debate, so what does that ultimately mean? Because, if I’m being honest, Reed has a lot of good points in there, a PhD level of study of the history of religion, landing him on what he believes is religion’s true purpose. It’s heady without being too heady, as Reed has some monologues that end with references to Monopoly or Lana Del Rey: a darkly funny punchline to potentially earth shattering questions Heretic is throwing at its Sisters and audience.
Fortunately it’s Hugh Grant delivering these monologues. All the things about Grant that made him boyishly charming for decades are weaponized against the audience here. His Mr. Reed is nothing short of terrifying: a deranged man completely lost in his own tortured but brilliant mind, convinced he is correct. And more sinisterly, eager to prove to anyone who will listen that he is right. Thankfully, his two foils are excellent at matching wits with him. I’d never seen Sophie Thatcher before, but she’s excellent here, playing a Mormon forged in her beliefs through the real world. From the get go she stands out as tough and grounded, as naturally all people from Chicago are ;). But the big winner here is the criminally underutilized Chloe East. Initially she comes off as a ditzy but curious believer, completely unaware of the bad people in the world. But East finds a way to showcase the reserve Sister Paxton has inside of her, finding her voice and true faith when she’s at her lowest points in the story. I should’ve known, since she almost converted Steven Spielberg in her previous work.
So, if you’re in a crisis of faith, stay as far away from Heretic as possible. But for anyone else, this movie is real treat. It’s scary without being too gory, interesting without being too morose, and ultimately faith affirming without copping out. Karl Marx can have his opiate of the masses; true believers will rebuke the Heretic and live the truths they hold so deep within themselves, forged through honest and fair questioning and coming out the other side renewed in their zeal. Or Hugh Grant will get them. Good luck!