Heretic Review

The spotlight on Mormon culture has grown brighter and brighter over the past few years, with Heretic being the latest to add to the conversation. Ahead of the film’s release, the A24 marketing team capitalized on this, recruiting Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s ex-Mormon star Whitney Rose and the cast member of Hulu’s buzzy new Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt. Their beliefs, whether former or present, have still reached a younger generation, with soda shops taking over TikTok — something the film pokes at, as the religious text permits alcohol but doesn’t explicitly outlaw caffeinated beverages.

However, unlike the reality shows that seem to gloss over the darker details of the Mormon church, Heretic challenges those beliefs (and religion as a whole) while delivering a spooky horror film in the process. We first meet Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) as they try to pose for a photo with some social media-obsessed teens, only for them to pants the latter missionary. Instantly, the two are set apart, with Barnes being the skeptic and tougher character who converted, while Sister Paxton is the cookie-cutter version of someone born and raised in the church: innocent and unwilling to stray from her values.

While making house visits, they make the mistake of stumbling upon Mr. Reed’s home. As the role is played by Hugh Grant, he does an excellent job at getting the girls to trust him, through the same gentle British nature he gives off in most roles. He can’t be a bad guy, right? If you asked any American to think of a British man, his name would probably come up — given being the poster boy for the early-aughts rom-com era and more recently, the person flicks like Glass Onion, Wonka, and the Jerry Seinfeld Pop-Tart movie turn to when they need someone with an accent.

A smart move by the casting department, this appeal also allows Grant’s character to play in a game of intellectual cat-and-mouse and show a different side of his acting chops, primarily with Sister Barnes — who is more willing to engage his line of questioning than her spiritual associate. This is where Heretic operates at its strongest, weaving in the real origins of Monopoly and The Hollies/Radiohead/Lana Del Rey lawsuits as Mr. Reed aims to get the two women to waiver in their beliefs. With a fast-paced witty script using references to appeal to all generations, the film pulls you in, waiting to see exactly what mental game he will pull out next.

Despite this incredible momentum, Heretic loses its pacing a bit after Sister Barnes and Paxton head into the basement, after choosing a door with the potential hope of escaping. While down there, they encounter a woman Mr. Reed claims he can bring back to life, stepping away from Grant’s character a bit. Not only that but the dynamic that the missionaries presented shifts, causing the film to take a step back instead of elevating the stakes. The initially quiet Sister Paxton suddenly reveals that she was observant of all the red flags from the moment they entered the house, feeling out of place for her character. If she was, why did she not speak up, instead of choosing to follow Sister Barnes?

And, for Thatcher’s turn as Sister Barnes, Heretic makes the mistake of stopping her engagement with Grant in the second half, losing the engaging aspect that hooks viewers in the first place. Granted, Chloe East is equally talented, but her character doesn’t have the believability to be a rebellious young woman willing to question the Mormon church, even if the film and Mr. Reed try to push her in that direction. However, Heretic is an enjoyable time at the movies, especially if you’re looking for something for the Halloween season without a full-throttle scare.