HERETIC – Review by T.J. Callahan
Heretic: The more you know the less you know, you know.
Hugh Grant is a one man creep show in the guise of a religious zealot in Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ horror thriller, Heretic.
Two young Mormon missionaries set out on their bicycles going door to door to preach their gospel to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately for Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, the only interested party is the diabolical Mr. Reed. He welcomes the women into his home with the promise of blueberry pie and a possible Baptism, but instead engages the girls in a deadly version of Jeopardy where their faith is what’s in question.
Grant goes to the dark side in Heretic as a man who doubts the validity of religion and the church itself. He’s part theology teacher, part psychopath, and chews up the scenery with every monologue.
Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) is Sister Barnes and Chloe East (The Fabelmans) is Sister Paxton. The up and coming actresses hold their own emoting alongside Grant playing an ecclesiastical game of Clue as they try to decipher how to escape from one of Reed’s basement dungeons. While their characters look conservative, Barnes and Paxton find their inner strength to put up the fight of their lives as they fight for their lives.
Heretic is more cerebral than slasher. It’s psychological blasphemy. A sinister Sunday School lesson with only a few requisite jump scares and some blood. The film pulls you in with it’s believable performances, originality, and just enough mystery to keep you interested. See Heretic in a dark theater for less distractions. My husband Ricky gives it 1 3⁄4 👀’s open. We almost lost him upfront with all the proselytizing. Heretic registers a 7 on the TeejFlixometer.
