Heretic, directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (65), is a slick little chamber flick starring Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed. A welcoming old fella who has a few points to push. With sinister charm and Grant’s signature romantic persona. Heretic is a decent psychological thriller, somewhat hostage horror flick that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until a muddy third act shift. Some spoilers to follow…
The film follows two late teen Mormon missionaries, Sisters Paxton (Chloe East, The Fablemans) and Barnes (Sophie Thatcher, MaXXXine), spending their day about town attempting to spread the word of their lord and saviour Jesus Christ. The film opens with them discussing condom and penis sizes. At least, what they’ve been told about those things. More on this later.
As they make their way through a list of predetermined homes to visit, apparently some people sign up for Mormon visits, Paxton and Barnes find themselves at Mr Reed’s. But as they settle in to offer their spiel and work hard for a convert, it quickly becomes clear that it is Mr Reed who has some faithful ideas to sell.
The challenging, clever dialogue choice is where Heretic shines. Verbose but perfectly delivered by the three stars as they embody their characters. Heretic is another of those rare tales that would work just as well as theatre. With minimal characters and location changes. The writing and delivery is up there with other chamber flicks like Reservoir Dogs and Dog Day Afternoon.
The core message is control, through belief. More explicitly, all dogma exists to indoctrinate and control the individual. All religious flavours being derived from each other. As a species spanning around two hundred thousand years, we’re not very original. Every statement and question offered by Mr Reed is a test. Leading Paxton and Barnes further down his garden path. Further toward his own iteration of religious dogma and where he exerts control at will. Clever film making in hindsight as every discussion and visual cue through the film sets unsubtle ground work to hammer the message home. You act because you believe. You believe what you’re told. Freedom and choice, illusions.
Believe the hype, Grant’s performance as Mr Reed is superb for its chilling quality. Hugh Grant is embracing something of a career renaissance. Grant plays a slimy character extremely well and pulls it off while retaining his usually captivating charisma. Characters like Fletcher from Guy Richie’s The Gentleman and Mr Reed from Heretic are absolutely sick puppies in their unravelling. But captivating to watch.
Mr Reed’s casual, almost friendly demeanour escalates Heretic’s tension scene to scene, as Reed systematically reveals darker motives. Turning theological debate into captive horror. Twisting the needle and leaning on pressure points at all the right intervals. Grant’s performance stands out as a highlight of the film, as his unsettling portrayal draws audiences deeper into the sinister atmosphere that surrounds his character and weirdly constructed home.
East as Paxton and Thatcher as Barnes are also no slouch. Barnes being the more accomplished, world-weary of the two and Paxton, innocent and confidently naïve to a fault. The pair rise to Mr Reed’s mind fuck challenge and face his game head on.
The only downside to this exploration of a strange old man’s delusion is, it all turns out a bit silly towards the end. Falling back on classic hostage horror tropes and last minute miraculous intervention. Or does it?
A direct interpretation of events at the end of the film is a bit of a let down, trite and tropey compared to the quality of the journey to that point. But the final act is bold in its ambiguity and not all may be as it seems. Recall the ambiguous interpretation of what’s actually happening in Paul Verhoven and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall? Same deal here. In Heretic, it’s practically spelled out for the audience. You be the judge.
Heretic screens in local cinemas from Thursday, November 28th. It’s a must see for fans of high tension, slow burn horror. You best believe it. 8/10 blueberry candles!
