By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Lifted by a sadistically compelling performance from a veteran actor, “Heretic” is a psychological horror film that will have audiences praying for more. Using religion as the theme, this film relies on extremely well written dialogue to generate tantalizing terror. Despite some gaps and goofs in the story, this is a well-constructed movie that frightens and entertains with some old school horror techniques.
Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) are two young Mormon missionaries riding their bikes around town hoping for the opportunity to convert people to their religion. Getting caught in a cold, drenching rain, the young ladies have one more hopeful stop before returning to their church. Nestled in the woods on the outskirts of town is a secluded house where Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) resides.
His well-mannered and welcoming nature disarms the Mormon girls, convincing them to enter his home with his seemingly innocent and genuine curiosity. As they become ensnared in Mr. Reed’s elaborate trap, they realize they have no choice but to play his deadly game of cat and mouse. The terrified missionaries are locked in a theological debate that challenges not only their faith, but also their lives with no guarantees there can even be a winner.
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have been a writing team for over 20 years with their big break coming in 2018 after their intense screenplay for “A Quiet Place” turned into a successful horror franchise. It hasn’t been all roses since then for the dynamic duo, having written and directing last year’s terrible sci-fi film, “65.” However, they immediately bounce back from that failure to write and direct “Heretic,” proving once again these two filmmakers have what it takes to put the audience on the edge of their seat for the entire thrill ride.
The set up by Beck and Woods is pretty clever, establishing an antagonist similar in nature to the infamous serial killer from the late 19th century, H.H. Holmes. Holmes was notorious for luring people into what became known as his murder castle, where he would torture, kill, and burn his victims. The directors create a similar house of horrors, while building the tension with theologically based dialogue that tickles the mind. They slowly turn the thought-provoking religious debate into a twisted scenario of life and death. Crafty dialogue is not the only element that creates suspense. Beck and Woods use cinematography and excellent set design to create an unnerving feeling early as viewers take in the old fashioned home décor and unnerving lack of a personal touch that take on a much more sinister tone as the story unfolds.
While the suspense and dialogue create enjoyable, thought-provoking moments throughout the first half of the movie that keeps the audience guessing, there are too many plot holes and mistakes that prevent this from being one of the best horror films of the year. These holes and gaffs mainly make their presence felt towards the end of the film, which does detract from an unpredictable climax. However, the directors incorporate enough well-thought-out twists and turns that create some surprisingly explosive moments.
With this being such a dialogue driven film and focusing a vast majority of the screen time on only three characters, having talented actors is critical to making this work. Hugh Grant is one such talent, and he absolutely elevates the production to another level with a mesmerizing performance as the antagonist. He slowly and horrifically transforms his character from this well-mannered, charming, and well-spoken theologian into a purely wicked and cunning sociopath of diabolical intentions. This is perhaps the veteran actor’s finest and most memorable performance to date.
Interestingly the two main actresses, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, grew up as Mormons, so their background certainly laid the foundation for their authentic performances. For those familiar with TV’s “Yellowjackets,” Sophie’s strong acting abilities should come as no surprise. She plays the more worldly of the two missionaries, portraying her character with a greater sense of awareness and understanding, making her the convincing leader of the two. Chloe balances Sophie’s character with more naivete and eagerness that quickly evolves as she comes to terms with the dire situation in which she finds herself. Both young actresses avoid the stereotypical horror victim role, providing meaningful depth that keep viewers in their corner.
This is the type of horror film that is more cerebral and offers chilling suspense without relying on the excessive gore that most modern slashers do. “Heretic” has its flaws, but its psychological realism and evil mastermind performance from Hugh Grant make this one worth spending the time and money to watch.
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