The Stream: It’s kind of talk-y for a horror movie and light on the scares.

The Big Screen: Hugh Grant is reveling in his Villain Era.

The Final Bill: A charismatic performance by Hugh Grant makes this otherwise slow horror movie tense and entertaining.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Writers: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Stars: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R for some bloody violence
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Production Companies: A24, Beck Woods, Shiny Penny, Catching Light Studios
Platform: In theaters November 8, 2024
Notable Trailers: Companion, Babygirl, Heart Eyes, Y2K, Den of Thieves 2

What’s up, Streamers!?! If you thought you were going to see Here, then you got more than you bargained for when you stumbled into Heretic. Heretic isn’t some quaint drama about the passage of time in one place. It’s a horror, thriller movie written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods that takes faith and religious belief and turn them on their heads. In this movie, we follow two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), when they go to the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), who has requested more information about the church. Mr. Reed convinces Barnes and Paxton that his wife is making a blueberry pie and will join them to discuss the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When Barnes and Paxton get an uneasy feeling and things aren’t as they seem, the meeting with Reed devolves in a religious philosophical standoff backing the women into a corner. Heresy and proselytizing hijinks ensue.

Heretic starts off pretty slow and talk-y. For a movie that’s supposed to be a thrilling horror movie, it spends a lot of time debating religion, belief and faith. I guess one might categorize this movie as “elevated” horror. It definitely takes a bit to get into the meat of the movie though Hugh Grant is immediately creepy. When the movie does get to the explicitly creepy part, then it really crackles with tension. I still can’t say there really is anything scary – maybe it’s creepy or gross, but scary – it is not. Nevertheless, the plot an interesting overall, and the script makes some provocative points about faith that make the psychological horror elements work.

The biggest reason to see Heretic is that Hugh Grant is very fun. He really is enjoying his villain era and proving that he’s more than just the charming rom-com guy. In fact, his charisma works quite well here because he’s creepy and perfectly calibrates when to let Mr. Reed’s freak flag fly. Who knew this guy could be ominous with a smile. I’ll also say that Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East play their roles just right. They prove to be good foils to Grant, and the movie wouldn’t be as tense or enjoyable without Thatcher and East making their characters naive but not dumb.

Ultimately, Heretic may not be the horror movie you wanted, but it is an entertaining psychological “horror” thriller. It does have thrills, but it lacks in scares. Hugh Grant gives a fun and charismatic performance that elevates the movie to very entertaining heights. Although the movie is slow in the beginning, it will pull you in and drag you along. Grab a bowl of popcorn for a matinee viewing.