Heretic (2024): Review and Summary
“Heretic” uses the hook of horror as an entry point for a deeper conversation about the role and purpose of religion in society.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Film Length | 1 Hour 51 Minutes |
| Release Date | November 8, 2024 |
| Advisory Rating | Rated R |
| Initially Available On/Via | Theatrical |
| Genre(s) | Horror, Thriller |
| Distributor | A24 |
| Director | Scott Beck, Bryan Woods |
| Writer | Scott Beck, Bryan Woods |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Sister Barnes | Sophie Thatcher |
| Sister Paxton | Chloe East |
| Mr. Reed | Hugh Grant |
Plot Summary
Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, for the Mormon church, are visiting a small town hoping to inform and convert people. Sister Barnes is a bit more comfortable in the act, but she is also someone who wasn’t born and raised in the church and has worldly experiences. Sister Paxton, on the other hand, feels her faith and meaning in life are tied to the church, and with that, being successful is one of the best ways to honor God.
Enter Mr. Reed. He is a peculiar man who lives a secluded life but seems to want conversation, maybe even a debate, about religion. However, when he draws the girls into conversation under false pretenses, both go from curious, maybe even admiring Mr. Reed’s intellect, to having all the reason to fear him, as it shows he wishes to exploit them to test his theories.
Character Descriptions
Sister Barnes
Sister Barnes is the more experienced of the two sisters we meet and seems to be more “worldly.” She has experiences that more conservative, naïve, or sheltered members of the church, like Sister Paxton, haven’t had and is less nervous when talking to people.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Blink.”
Sister Paxton
Sister Paxton, while she grew up in the Mormon church and is moderately studied, struggles a bit. This is mainly due to a tad bit of social anxiety and seemingly not having as much experience as Sister Barnes with interacting with people outside of her community.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Genera+ion.”
Mr. Reed
Mr. Reed is a theology student who has studied nearly every religion you can think of, and he has strong opinions about faith. However, as of late, he has not had the opportunity to have conversations or debates, so Sister Barnes and Paxton offer him the opportunity to sharpen his skills and test some theories.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.”
Other Noteworthy Information
Where To Watch This:- Movie Contains: Gore, Blood, Torture
- The distributor is also known for “On Becoming A Guinea Fowl.”
- The director is also known for “65.”
- The writer is also known for “A Quiet Place.”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Audience
“Heretic” is geared towards horror fans who want a villain who isn’t strong, running around, and simple. They want a villain who has his charms and is demented but smart. But, fans still have to accept that despite how smart and clever the villain is built up to be, they can still be vulnerable to the protagonists.
On The Fence
Horror As A Tool, To Showcase A Greater Point
Mr. Reed’s philosophies and ideas are worthy of great discussion. The problem is that his thoughts and ideas feel like something worthy of a drama, but with the desire to make money, horror was put into play with extremes to make it so when Mr. Reed starts to bring some a level of boredom; you get that proverbial teacher slamming a ruler on the desk feeling.
Now, let me reiterate how Mr. Reed tests Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes’ beliefs is quite interesting, especially since they have come to be Mormons in different ways and aren’t as strict with following guidelines, depending on which one you are talking about. However, the issue some may have here is, in some ways, similar to “Joker: Folie à Deux,“ what was sold isn’t what is given. “Herectic” didn’t push it would be almost a seminar level lecture on religion. You’re thinking A24 horror movie, which means weird, a bit twisted, yes, more depth than your average horror, but still a relatively fun time.
“Heretic” doesn’t fail to deliver that, but you can see it wants to have that delicate balance between a madman with points while keeping those who mainly, or strictly, watch anything that is a horror or thriller to safely feel fear and be on their way. I’d submit that “Heretic” may not do in a way that will make it a hit like other A24 films, especially those that get touted as a surprise smash.
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