Heretic 2024 Parents Guide

Last Updated on November 4, 2024 by

Heretic is a 2024 Horror Movie directed and written by Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods. The film stars Hugh Grant Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East, with a runtime of 1 hour 50 minutes, theatre released on November 08, 2024.

Ever wondered how far you’d go to defend what you believe? Heretic is a chilling new thriller that dives deep into the tensions of faith, doubt, and control—all with the intensity of a horror movie. This movie isn’t about classic jump scares; it’s a slow-burn mind game that leaves you questioning what’s real and who you can trust.

The plot starts with the two missionaries, on a rainy day, evangelizing, going from house to house. They arrive at the house of Mr. Reed, portrayed by Hugh Grant, who looks like a kind and a reader. Reed offers them blueberry pie and when he says that his wife is in the other room, they go in without thinking too much of it. However, when they are inside, Reed changes his tone and asks them questions that make them rethink their stance. He begins to question everything they once knew, and though he is not overtly crude or malicious, he is always slightly too polished for comfort. Despite this, they do not listen to their inner voice and follow him into his library.

Once he sits them down comfortably, Reed starts with his own ‘lecture.’ Taking music and games as examples, he describes how religions change over time, adopting concepts from other religions. He uses it in discussion as to how various songs may be produced to sound like other songs due to inspiration from them. For instance, he talks about how “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies led to “Creep” by Radiohead which in turn led to “Get Free” by Lana Del Rey. All these artists were copying one another since the songs stemmed from the same source, and this resulted in litigation. Reed points out that religion often works the same way: In most cases, older religions shaped the stories of the younger religions. This starts to give the two missionaries a pause to think as to how much of it is that they are still holding on to some beliefs from the past.

As the audience begins to see some validity in Reed’s reasoning, the motivation shifts to something more sinister. Kind and gentle appearing Reed is a villain concealing sinister intentions. He says there is a single correct belief system and, throughout the episode, it is gradually revealed that he has something sinister in mind. His friendly behavior appears rather intrusive as he guides the missionaries further into his home. A key component of the film is humor, which is embodied in the protagonist played by Hugh Grant; However, he gets trapped in his house and women get eliminated effortlessly, which adds to the serial killer element of the movie. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are young actresses who perform adequately, equally portraying politeness and fear. Here, Reed exploits their courtesy and the upbringing that makes them polite, which pulls them deeper into his plan.

Mr. Reed’s views might sound like the theories one would get to learn in a classroom set aside for the study of religion or philosophy in a college. For instance, at one point, he quips, “The more you learn, the less you know.” This idea implies that the more one acquires knowledge in this world, the more one is likely to open oneself to more questions due to the complexity of the world. Reed goes on to caution that when faith is accompanied by no doubt it becomes potentially damaging and oppressive since certainty can cause people to cease to inquire. The filmmakers may not condone Reed’s approach to manipulation, but his character forces the audience to contemplate the influence of faith as well as skepticism.

Hugh Grant, in particular, gives a great performance in his role. Best known for romantic comedies and drama films, Grant has recently featured in more serious productions such as Paddington 2 and Dungeons & Dragons. Shilling, the protagonist of Heretic is ten times more terrifying not because of his looks or his voice but because of his charm. Their smooth-talking protagonist – his voice is so low and rational that he always leads the missionaries where he wants them to be.

It is an indie movie, and its production and distribution are from A24, a production company that is renowned for making ambiguous artistic pieces. Heretic is more of a ‘thinking man’s’ horror movie as a result. Most events occur in a single house, which makes the story very focused, but it never becomes monotonous at any point. Chung Chung-hoon, the famous cinematographer, together with the director of Park Chan-wook, maintains fluidity in the shots while keeping the tension rising in scenes that seem to consist merely of discussions. The art direction also enhances the suspense throughout the movie by making the house look like there are secret passages, hidden doors, and gadgets.

With such topics and tensions, Beck and Woods have made a movie that will not let viewers get bored. It is as if they are guiding us through a labyrinth, suggesting we step in a certain direction, but not bearing the consequences on us until the bitter end. Even though the audience might be upset to find out that Reed is entirely evil at heart, the two young women can utilize their minds and stand up for themselves. Heretic is a film where the characters and the audience find themselves inside a room filled with questions, beliefs, and horrors which makes it one of the most mind-bending horrors of the year.