Heretic review: A prescient film with riveting performances neutered by an underbaked final act

As a seasoned horror enthusiast who has navigated countless psychological terrors, I must say that “Heretic” left me both enthralled and slightly disappointed. The film masterfully captures the unsettling tension of being trapped in a situation where one’s beliefs are systematically challenged – a scenario all too familiar to many women.

In the same vein as the fleeting blueberry pie in the novel Heretic, politics frequently find themselves deeply ingrained within the genetic makeup of the horror genre. This isn’t unexpected, considering the year 2024 has seen a surge of relevant films tackling topics such as personal freedom and faith. A24’s newest production seems particularly apt for its time – a tale about a man who exploits others under religious pretenses. Unfortunately, the movie’s climax doesn’t hold up well, exposing its undercooked core.

This primarily one-location horror film centers around three captivating performances by stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East. In the storyline, East and Thatcher portray Mormon missionaries Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes who are on a recruitment mission for their church. The arrival of Grant’s character, the intriguing Mr. Reed, adds tension to the plot as he resides in a house that doubles as an escape room-like setting. As hinted in the trailer, Mr. Reed deceives Paxton and Barnes, trapping them inside his home and refusing to let them go until they participate in his sinister game.

The opening part of the movie is an outstanding, nerve-wracking psychological thriller filled with intrigue. Each actor delivers a remarkable performance, but Grant truly excels as the enigmatically appealing yet coldly calculating Mr. Reed. It’s chilling to think that many women may have found themselves in similar situations as the sisters do, trapped in power struggles with men who arrogantly assume their intelligence surpasses their interlocutors, going to great lengths to justify their views, ironically hoping to convince others that their beliefs are the only correct ones.

The movie is marketed as a smart film featuring Mr. Reed in a role similar to Jigsaw’s antagonist, filled with intricate puzzles and gruesome games for the missionaries to navigate through for their survival. However, it fails to fully explore its intriguing premise. As the true horror unfolds, the shocks lose their impact and become more predictable. When terms like “simulation theory” are introduced, it’s difficult not to raise an eyebrow and question where the initial cleverness went.

Despite its flaws, I found the movie Heretic hard to look away from. The acting and direction skillfully built tension and unease, but it wouldn’t have been as effective without Grant’s chilling screen persona and the strong-willed performances by Thatcher and East.

The script becomes confusing when you delve into the movie’s spiritual themes. There seems to be a coherent reasoning running throughout the film, but it contradicts where the story ultimately leads. It’s both foreseeable and unsophisticated. Typically, ambiguity is a recurring element in religious horror to prevent offending viewers, but in this case, it seems to have worked against the filmmaker.

The narrative of this work, in its eagerness to straddle multiple perspectives, unfortunately fails to deliver a potent message on the topics of religion and manipulative power. Instead, it seems less impactful than intended.

Heretic is now playing in theaters nationwide.

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2024-11-08 23:25