One of the primary rules of horror movie survival, "Never talk to strangers," is ingeniously ignored by two young women in A24's newest psychological thriller, "Heretic." A dark, stormy night and a house shrouded in dense foliage are two cinematic warning signs that scream, "Don't go into that house." However, for two young missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talking to strangers is essential to spreading the good word of their church. Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods compose a film that is slim on the usual jump scares that often define religious horror stories but instead invests in thought-provoking, tension-building conversations about faith.
The film begins in small-town America with Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) charmingly trading innocuous chatter about all things holy and otherwise. The two women, proud and motivated to share the lessons of their congregation, venture at the beginnings of a storm to the last house on their list, introducing themselves to a man named Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), who has requested information about their church. Mr. Reed, a pleasant and sharp-witted host, methodically lures the women into a chilling game of cat and mouse that challenges their views of faith and the idea of the nature of God.
Faith-focused films, especially those residing in the realm of horror, tend to sway into demon possession or cult fanaticism territory far too often. "Heretic" takes a different path, initially trading the familiar fear tactics for savvy character development and a world-building maze of hidden rooms and tunnels that boasts a creepy atmosphere. Part of the fun of "Heretic" is recognizing all the red flags that Mr. Reed waves; off-conversation comments about the house having metal walls and the constant diversion to the comments about his wife's whereabouts assist in maintaining a pressure of tightening tension with every comment about religion. For the two determined Mormons, who acknowledge to one another the audacity of the situation, their faith and commitment to their calling keep them engaged with Mr. Reed against their better judgment.
As the mystery slowly unwinds, the writer-directors, Beck and Woods, do a great job of letting the characters promote the best surprises, leading the way with a witty and wily performance from Hugh Grant, who chews the scenery with menacing glee. Sophie Thatcher, playing the cautious, more worldly Sister Barnes, and Chloe East, composing the more sensitive and trusting Sister Paxton, are sympathetic, composed, and assured of their faith. They are true believers, perfect prey for a hungry wolf who quickly sheds the sheep's disguise and becomes a preaching purveyor of false doctrine. How one believes in the unknown forces in the world and the faith that ultimately binds one to a higher power are the core narrative mechanisms that set up the spooky elements that find their way into the latter half of the film.
Once Mr. Reed offers the missionaries a choice for freedom, a sinister decision based on their belief or denial of God, all under the influence of fear, the film transitions into familiar, scary movie territory. A mix of jump scares and bumps in the dark is about as frightening as they will get; the film's reliance on the character dynamics is the primary reason that this third act of the film works, even if the momentum established so effectively at the beginning stalls. Hugh Grant's performance, which grows more aggressive and wild-eyed as his plan to torment the two Sisters moves graver in motion, is an essential element that provokes the tension and crafts the dread between Mr. Reed and the two women. Grant, who has been on a run of fun characters with his last few movies, takes on the role of horror movie villain with impressive success.
"Heretic" does a great job of building a chilling cerebral horror narrative, one immensely supported by three excellent performances and the focus on building tension and eerie atmospherics over easy shocks and jump scares. While the final act, unfortunately, abandons some of the exciting elements introduced in the beginning, there are enough positive decisions for Scott Beck and Bryan Woods to craft a memorable religious thriller.
Movie Score: 3.5 / 5
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