Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Heretic’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Chloe East, Hugh Grand, and Sophie Thatcher as Sister Paxton, Mr. Reed, and Sister Barnes in Scott Beck and Brian Woods’ HERETIC. (Photo Courtesy of A24.)

There are few things in this world more polarizing, than religion, and it makes sense as to why. After all, religion has done… a lot of bad in the world. Since it has been the driving force of genocide time and time again, and so many have used its cloak to commit atrocities in the name of a deity that may or may not exist. Not to mention, so many use it as an excuse to do and say bad things to others since forgiveness should offer them absolution for their acts. But above all… what makes religion so rough is the sheer fact that there are wars fought over which religion is correct. All of which has brought about chaos, the kind that shockingly, is hard to let go of.
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Because on the flip side, religion has done so much for us as well. Because it has tasked us to think beyond our mortality and that perhaps there is life after death and a reward for making the choice to be more and be better. Plus, it has given focus and strength to the lost and helped people find hope in the darkness. Which more or less means humanity is in a toxic relationship with religion. Where we cannot address the bad because of the good, and it’s left so many wondering what a world would look like with this back and forth and if we can ever let religion go, and if so… what would we replace it with? Of course, there’s no easy answer to that question, which is why we turn to stories regarding such matters, since they can offer up fresh perspective, and it just so happens that a brand-new horror film from A24 offers up some thoughts on how perhaps we can move past it.

A feat that Heretic accomplishes by introducing us to a pair of missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints named, Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, who are eager to spread the word of their religion. In fact, when we meet them here, they are indeed out and about the town, doing their work and talking to so many and they are supremely excited to sit down and talk with Mr. Reed. Who is supremely enthusiastic about discussing the Mormon faith with them, and its value, and at first… it seems as though this discussion will be healthy and productive. But a surprise discovery, and a change in demeanor from Mr. Reed informs these missionaries, that he has darker intentions, the kind that involve showing them the truth about religion and how fruitless it is to follow it… at any cost.

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Which brings forth… a stunning horror feature. One that uses Reed’s lessons to truly explore the conflict of religion in a compelling and powerful manner. The kind where you agree with what he has to say and what he reveals, and that is what makes this feature so bold and so compelling. Because it holds nothing back in its criticism of religion and how cookie cutter it can be, not to insult it, but to open our eyes to how perhaps it no longer holds weight in our modern world and that the time has come to think differently about faith and its role in the construction of our society. In fact, the film offers an answer regarding that, since it speaks to how we should have faith in one another, and work toward better moral codes as a society to create the same sense of peace that religion creates, and while that’s not exactly a revolutionary theory, it has weight and gravitas.
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But of course, while it is nice to see some real discourse about the chaos of religion and enjoy a film that ponders upon what could replace it and what we could keep from it to lift people up, make no mistake about it… this is a horror film through and through, and much of that comes courtesy of Mr. Reed and his many vast lessons about religion. Since he has created a house of theological horrors for Barnes and Paxton to deal with, to learn what he wants them to learn, and that leads to some genuinely chilling moments, that speak to the cruelty we are capable of and how that cruelty motivates religion to exist, But also… the story just delivers some downright unsettling moments and decisions, the kind that are twisted and uncomfortable and truly leave one squirming in their seat. 

Which gives rise, to a stunning horror film. One that preys upon our fears of death, of what lie beyond the end, and our fears of the unknown to a deliver a thought and chilling story. One that also features some stellar acting, with Hugh Grant (Mr. Reed) leading the charge. In fact, he is an outright revelation here since he taps into new corners of his skill set in this film, to create a man that is part villain and part hero but all around twisted and that makes this motion picture an absolute must-see. Because this is that rare horror film that challenges a corner of our world that few do, and it really does leave us with plenty to think upon. Courtesy of a story that really ponders deeply upon the dangers of not letting go of that which may no longer serve us.

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