“Heretic” (2024)
Hugh Grant goes full horror movie girlie in “Heretic,” and I am here for it.
Grant stars as Mr. Reed, a religion-obsessed man who has an evening of treachery planned for two unsuspecting Mormon missionaries who come to his door.
The “Heretic” screening I attended included a livestreamed Q&A with Grant, where he shared that he studied cult leaders in preparation for the role, which definitely comes across in his performance. As the star of many 1990s romcoms, Grant inherently possesses the charm needed for this role, while also bringing in elements of psychopathy and insecurity.
Horror movies never get their due at awards shows, but Grant’s performance as Mr. Reed is one of the most gripping leading male performances I’ve seen this year.
As the Mormon missionaries who become victim to Mr. Reed’s plotting and blathering on, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East hold their own.
Sister Barnes (Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (East) are at Mr. Reed’s house to sell him on Mormonism, and he engages them by asking questions that go from the mundane to intrusive fairly quickly. They soon start to suspect his questioning is just the start of how he plans to push them.
The film expertly weaves religious theories and beliefs into its horror, a credit to filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
“Heretic” has employed some wild marketing gimmicks, from presenting attendees with an appropriately timed slice of blueberry pie at my screening to working with ex-Mormon reality stars (including “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Whitney Rose) to promote the film’s release.
For me, this movie is good enough to watch without those gimmicks, but if it gets more people to check it out, I’m all for it.