A scene from ‘Heretic’

TIFF ’24 Review: ‘Heretic’ is a new flavour of extremism

‘Heretic’ chronicles a menacingly provocative meeting between a religious scholar and two Mormon missionaries.

Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are travelling to people’s homes who’ve shown an interest in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As Mormons, they follow a distinct set of rules when it comes to these house visits, but Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) assures them all is well. He has some very stimulating thoughts and questions about their religion, and Paxton thinks she may finally convert someone. However, as the conversation derails, the young women find they cannot leave and have been tricked into participating in a series of experiments so Reed can test their faith.

Reed believes he’s found the one true religion and resolves to convince the Mormon missionaries that they’ve dedicated their lives to the wrong one. What begins as moderate prodding of their convictions — including a provocative metaphor involving Monopoly — slowly evolves into terrifying tests of their faith. The writer-director team of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods thrive on creating stories that unfold in unique circumstances.

The film’s opening acts are intensely thought-provoking as Reed initiates an intimidating debate to which the girls can only provide wrong answers and only he can win. Grant’s performance is incredibly unsettling as his calm demeanour masks a sadistic need to be right at all costs. Regrettably, the last act loses the thread to some degree. It introduces some ideas with great potential that are not fully explored, while also rejecting Reed’s doctrine by significantly shifting his character’s arc. It’s unfortunate the narrative loses its stirring momentum at the end, but the rest of the picture and Grant’s latest turn as villain is still worth the watch.

Heretic had its world premiere in the Special Presentations programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Read other reviews from the festival.

Directors: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East

Similar Posts

  • Review: Jack O’Connell continues trend of skillful silence in ‘71’ (Includes first-hand account)

    The chaos and confusion experienced in a mob causes people to make ill-advised decisions that can result in harm to themselves or others. Getting carried away in the situation or restricting one’s focus to a single detail can have equally damaging consequences. But some of these responses often seem uncontrollable in the heat of the moment. In ’71, a soldier performing crowd control becomes lost in enemy territory.

  • Review: ‘The Witch’ is creepy in ways totally unrelated to the title (Includes first-hand account)

    In spite of deep religious beliefs, fear and superstition was arguably an equal if not greater influence on the lives of early settlers. It’s one of the key reasons witch hunts have a significant role in American history. It was simpler to assign responsibility for unexplained and/or devastating events to an evil entity (Devil) or his servant than to endure it without recourse. By ridding themselves of the so-called perpetrator, they presumably remove the possibility of recurrence. In The Witch, an innocent lie snowballs into indefensible condemnation and self-fulfilling prophesy.

  • Review: ‘Maudie’ paints a complex but fulfilling picture (Includes first-hand account)

    There have been a number of movies based around characters who are underestimated or overlooked because they have a particular mental or physical challenge; frequently the person is faking a debility specifically for this purpose, but other times it’s real even though their abilities have been misjudged. More often than not, it’s outsiders who recognize their aptitude for something before those closest to them even notice. In Maudie, the main character’s talents are acknowledged by strangers and most of the world before her own family accepts she has any.