Heretic movie review: Hugh Grant elevates A24 horror film

So it is that Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) are enticed into the dimly lit, quaintly furnished parlour of Mr Reed (Hugh Grant). The first thing Reed tells them is that his house has “metal” in its walls and roof. That should give the girls pause, but as Reed offers that with Grant’s familiar twinkly mannerisms and winsome smile, it is easy to dismiss the same as one of the quirks of an old man.

However, very, very quickly, it is clear that a lot may be wrong about Reed, starting with the so-called Mrs Reed – “baking blueberry pies” – who never makes an appearance. But this film by frequent collaborators and writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods is not as straightforward as that. Unfortunately, as it were, it is not as complex as it promises to be either.

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For, what follows is Reed, who says he has studied theology, dissecting religion, the many iterations of it, and why and how we believe what we do, and can our belief pass the test of disbelief. The two missionaries, in their late teens or early 20s, are conscious of being outliers in a culture where “religion is no longer a part”, conscious that their particular faith may seem even more at odds with much of “modern beliefs”, and conscious of being out-talked – if not outsmarted – by Reed who clearly knows much more than they do and plays on their insecurities.

Reed draws on stuff from board games such as Monopoly and its many versions to popular hits and their many “inspirations”, and debates polygamy, to put Paxton and Barnes at more and more unease.

When they decide finally that they are done playing Reed’s games, including an inner room that is fashioned like a church, and has liturgical literature and items lining his bookshelves, he throws them a question that is the highest point of this film. “Do you believe after all that you have seen that you will find my wife behind this door?” he asks — his point being that the entire story of God rests on a premise as “weak”.

However, after this, as Reed leads his two trapped ingenues deeper and deeper into his lair, the film’s wrestling with faith becomes more and more a forced plot device, in the service of predictable horrors.

Because Grant is so very believable as a man who may actually be no more harmful than a conceited know-it-all, and one who is probably after little more than a fawning audience, you are willing to go along.

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Because East is so very good as a docile listener who has never really questioned authority, and who finds the ground beneath her feet slipping when asked to do so now, you are willing to humour the story. Because Thatcher’s striking beauty is so distracting that it is hard not to think of dangers posed by old men to young girls, you have to tell yourself constantly to refocus.

But because Heretic itself ultimately doesn’t have enough faith to follow through on its initial promise, it all comes down to that question again: the charm of God, or the charm of Grant?

Heretic movie directors: Scott Beck, Byran Woods
Heretic move cast: Hugh Grant, Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher
Heretic movie rating: 3 stars