The co-writers of “The Quiet Place,” Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, bring you an exciting thriller/horror inside the head of a well-mannered creep, or at least in his house.
A24 did it again, making a suspenseful “horror” movie with “Heretic.” I personally won’t call it a horror movie because there aren’t many jump-scares and it’s not gore/torture porn like your average modern horror movie. The movie follows two girls who are part of the Mormon church knocking door to door till they arrive at Mr. Reed’s door, played by Hugh Grant. The lesson we can all learn from the trailer and the movie is not to go inside stranger’s house, even if they have lovely accents.
Hugh Grant’s character is a well-mannered and educated man, especially in different religions. He asks the girls questions that could make someone question their own faith. The girls start to sense danger and try to leave just to find out they are trapped. Mr. Reed sets up an escape room-like puzzle if the girls want to leave. They were told they would see things that will question their own religion, and they will learn what Mr. Reed’s “true religion” is.
The trailer and the setting made this movie look like it was going to be a “Saw”-like movie or “Don’t Breathe,” where the victims try to find a way out of Mr. Reed’s house.
The movie kept me on the edge of my seat as I was trying to figure out what is going on, or just curious what would happen next. There are lots of twists and turns to make you wonder if you actually know what’s going on.
Compared to the other A24 horror type movie, this movie is less of a psychological horror such as “Midsommar,” “Hereditary,” and “The Lighthouse.” It has the similar suspense as “Ex Machina.”
The movie has a very minimalist setting and cast. Most of the movie takes place in Mr. Reed’s house, and with only three main characters.
Sister Barnes, played by Sophie Thatcher, is more self-aware and quicker on the uptake, and acts like an older sister to Elle McKinnon’s character, Sister Paxton. Sister Paxton isn’t dumb, but she has an innocence about her and talks a lot about subjects that she doesn’t know, similar to a young child. But she is a lot smarter than she appears.
Hugh Grant gives an excellent performance. He is charming and creepy at the same time. His character is a mix of Michael Caine’s Alfred and Anthony Hopkin’s Hannibal, with the mannerisms of Mrs. Doubtfire and the awkwardness of Norman Bates.
Topher Grace’s brief appearance as Elder Kennedy is a superior performance despite the minimal amount of dialogue.
There have been mixed reviews that the Mormon church have with the movie. Some believe the movie does a decent job staying accurate with their faith, while others have said accuracy is minimal. But most of the church agrees that this movie isn’t an anti-religion movie, but more about the dangers of going to a stranger’s house.
If you are looking for a movie with good suspense, decent psychological horror, great acting, I recommend getting a ticket for “Heretic.”
