Let’s talk Heretic (2024), a movie that poses a wild question: ever pictured Hugh Grant as the star of a horror flick? Yeah, we were shocked too, but he slides into the role of Mr. Reed like he’s been hiding a dark side forever, proving it’s better late than never to make the switch.
He’s not worlds apart or detached from his previous array of roles, all polite British charm, offering pie and warm smiles. That makes it all the more unexpected when he’s visited by two young missionaries, sisters in faith, eager to share the word of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known to some as the Mormon church. They believe they’re there for a friendly chat, completely oblivious to the quiet darkness lurking just beyond the threshold, waiting to pull them in deeper.
We don’t know much about the sisters, Sister Saxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher), aside from a brief mention that one of them once accidentally watched an adult movie, at least not before they end up on Mr. Reed’s doorstep, unaware of the strange and unnerving path that lies ahead of them.
They're both innocent and naive to a fault, so wrapped up in their faith that it's like they're wearing blinders, marching through a list of names they're dead-set on converting. That zeal makes them easy prey when Mr. Reed invites them in, spinning a tale about his wife baking a pie and offering promises of further discussion. It's as if they can practically smell the crust, and their blind trust carries them straight into his trap as the doors lock behind them.
Trying to figure out Mr. Reed is like getting lost in one of his mazes; you’re never sure if he’s a total psycho, a twisted genius, or something entirely different. That mystery is what hooks us in, keeping the story racing forward as you try to crack his game. His house adds to his mysterious persona, with an old-school mid-20th century vibe, like it’s stuck in time yet rigged like a high-tech fortress with no way out.
The sisters, Sister Saxton and Sister Barnes, start to catch on that something’s off. Like, way off. Pretty soon, they’re thinking it might be time to hit the road, only to find they’ve fallen deeper into Mr. Reed’s unsettling web than they ever imagined.
But just as they consider making their exit, Mr. Reed shifts gears. One thing is for certain: he’s not about to let the sisters leave or talk him into anything. He’s the boss here, steering them through his own wacky beliefs like a game show host gone rogue. He practically carpet-bombs them with information, and when he whips out a Monopoly board (seriously, Monopoly!), their heads start spinning, overwhelmed by the madness of it all.
He systematically dismantles their entire belief system, their instincts, their very minds, with a calm, calculated charm. At any given moment, you might think he could just as easily turn around and offer them safe passage to freedom, making them feel as though they were never in any danger at all. It’s a psychological horror done right, keeping them on edge while convincing them they’re safe. They never fully realize how deep they’re in until it’s too late.
Heretic keeps you locked in, moving like a slow-burning fuse that never really fizzles out, with every moment hitting just right and no dead spots. If this is the last time we see Hugh Grant at center stage in a horror movie, it’s certainly not a shabby way for him to stamp his mark on the genre and bow out. He leaves behind a memorable and thought-provoking performance.