What do you believe in? It seems like a simple enough question to answer; however, when you begin to break it down, there are many ways to interpret it. What beliefs are we talking about? Religion, perhaps? Are we talking about which God we pray to and what religious standards we ascribe to? Or maybe it’s moral beliefs that we’re supposed to answer with. Do we believe in being a good person, and if so, what dictates that? There’s some cross between these two, but it leads to one more interesting question: what lengths are you willing to go to protect your beliefs? There’s so much at the core of A24’s Heretic, all leading back to the above question: what do you believe in?
A24 has become a studio known for its horror, producing films such as the X trilogy, Talk To Me, Midsommar, and Hereditary. Their name has become synonymous with horror, although they have branched out significantly to other genres in recent years. Heretic is just the newest film looking to terrify audiences from the directing/writing duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (writers of A Quiet Place and The Boogeyman). Starring legendary Hugh Grant,
Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East, Heretic has arrived in theaters and is one of the most substantial and thought-provoking horror films of 2024.
Are you ready to question everything you believe in? If so, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself. When you’re ready swing open the door and continue on to learn more about this A24 film!
[Warning: spoilers from Heretic are below!]
Destiny comes knocking in A24’s Heretic
Sister Barnes (Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (East) are on a mission from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As devout believers, both are doing their best to prove their worth to the church and their God. Part of this, perhaps the biggest piece of the devotion pie, involves converting others to join them. This involves them handing out pamphlets that most people throw out immediately and knocking on doors, asking to speak the words of God. There are only so many slamming doors that one can take, but Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton continue on their journey, believing they are doing what is right for their God. A journey that brings them onto the porch of one Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant).
Having expressed interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, making him the prime candidate from our two missionaries, Mr. Reed welcomes them graciously into his house with the promise of pie and refreshments for the two women. However, it quickly becomes apparent that there is something off. With a locked door and the only way out is to follow Mr. Reed down a dark corridor, Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton are faced with the same sort of question this article begins. What do you believe in?
Playing mind games with the women, Mr. Reeds asks them not only what they believe in but also how strong those convictions are. Are they willing to die for those beliefs? And what if he could prove that there is a singular religion predating any currently in existence? As time ticks away and panic begins to rise in Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, is there a way out of this trap set by Mr. Reed, or will they be meeting their maker sooner than they’d like?
Heretic is more profound than your traditional horror film
The current cinema landscape is full of horror films, with a new one coming out at least monthly. Many of them are just your typical run-of-the-mill scary movies, trading out the depth of the story for jump scares and overall spooky vibes. If you’re going into a horror film just for the scare and don’t really care about the plot, that’s totally fine. I love those too, as it’s fun to quickly shut off your mind and just take in a movie for what it is.
That being said, when you get a scary movie that not only brings the frights and haunts but gives you a bit more substance to think about long after the credits roll, that is something special. Heretic is that something special. This A24 film trades the traditional scares for a general sense of uneasiness throughout the movie. As an audience member, you become more uncomfortable with Hugh Grant’s character as the story progresses. His transition from a kind old man to a crazed kidnapper with a hidden agenda is unsettling, giving me chills that kept me on the edge of my seat.
There are no real jump scares or scary parts in general, but what Heretic does is mess with the minds of the characters and the audience, as it pulls back the layers of religion and belief. It truly makes you question what is it you believe in and how strong that belief is. Is it strong enough to withstand external pressure, or does it cave at the first sign of adversity? I think that’s a fair question that we all should be asking ourselves regularly, especially in today’s political and social climate.
I walked away from Heretic, questioning everything I stood for, which in turn helped me rediscover aspects of myself that I needed to recommit to. While I hope I never have to confront my beliefs in the same situation as Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, the film did lead to a deeper exploration and conversation with my friends who saw it with me. That speaks to the ideas outlined in Heretic, which will cause the film to stay in the public’s mind for much longer than a slasher film or any other typical horror movie.
Heretic is worth a trip to the cinema
With so many horror films coming out lately, some are worth waiting for to arrive on streaming. That being said, Heretic is absolutely a must-see in theaters. Being surrounded by others in the off-putting environment that Heretic builds is essential to the horror aspect of the film. While this is a film I would rewatch at home, I think seeing it in theaters gives you the full experience that is necessary for a movie such as this.
Heretic is currently playing in theaters.
Learn more about the film, including how to watch, at the A24 site for the title.
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