2024 A24
Rated: R
Length: 1 hr 51min
Horror ~ Psychological Horror ~ Thriller
Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East.
QUESTION EVERYTHING….
HERETIC MEANING:
A heretic is someone whose beliefs or actions contradict the established doctrines or principles of a particular religion, group, or institution. This term is often used in a religious context, particularly within Christianity, but can also apply to other areas where there are established systems of belief or practice.
In Christianity, a heretic is someone who holds religious beliefs that differ from the official teachings of their church, especially the Roman Catholic Church. While a heretic might also be a dissenter or nonconformist, the core idea is the contradiction of established doctrine or belief, rather than simply disagreeing.
Historically, and sometimes even today, being labeled a heretic has led to conflict, persecution, or even violence, as established authorities may view heresy as a threat.
SYNOPSIS:
Two young missionaries from the LDS Church, timid Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and confident Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher), arrive at the home of a reclusive middle-aged man, Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant). He invites them in, assuring them that his wife is preparing a blueberry pie in the back of the house. They begin to discuss religion, and Sister Paxton playfully expresses a desire to visit others, after death, as a butterfly that appears on the hands of her loved ones. During the conversation, Reed makes several uncomfortable comments about their faith. When Reed steps out of the room, Barnes realizes that the smell of blueberry pie is from a candle, the front door is locked, and they have no phone signal.
THE REVIEW:
From the moment that the skies turn ominous, the rain starts and Mr. Reed opens the door, you sense it. It builds slowly as the two Sisters enter Mr. Reed’s house, a general sense of unease, of foreboding. As the two sisters sit in his living room, he assures them that his wife is baking a blueberry pie and will be out shortly to join them. Mr. Reed keeps disappearing into the other room and returning alone without his wife. The two sisters repeatedly tell Mr. Reed that as per Church rules they are not allowed to be alone with a man in his house, there must be another adult female present or they will have to leave. Sister Barnes turns around the candle that Mr. Reed had placed on the table and is dismayed to see that it is a Blueberry Pie scented candle.
Her mind quickly begins to sense trouble and rightly so. The two sisters start scheming and pretend they have a phone call from their Pastor and must return to the Church. Mr. Reed promptly informs them that they are lying because there is no cell service in his “metal” house. And a game of cat and mouse ensues as the two sisters desperately try to con their way into leaving as the kind and gentle Mr. Reed starts to appear a little more treacherous and deceiving. Using words and a conversation about Religion and Faith, and props like board games and different religious books like The Holy Bible and The Koran. Mr. Reed cons and tricks them step by step deeper into his house, into his wicked little game.
It is Hugh Grant as you’ve never seen him before. Dark, witty, evil, very smart and educated in the world of Religion. It is devilishly fun and very scary watching Hugh Grant turn from the nice Mr. Reed into the twisted demented Heretic who oversees a very wicked and evil game in his house. A game he has crafted and perfected over years of practice. The terror builds slowly until it is palpable and unescapable. It is terrifying, a true Horror movie that builds and builds until it strangles you with discomfort. It is thought provoking, and like a train wreck, you are sucked into it unable to look away.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is a good one, a truly psychologically terrifying Horror Movie. Hugh Grant is magnificently evil portraying a side we’ve never seen before. Bravo on that performance. Kudos to Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as well. I loved Sophie Thatcher in this as well as Companion and I am going to have to watch her debut in the 2018 Movie Prospect as well as 2023’s The Boogeyman, but Chloe East really shines in this. Going from the innocent naïve young Sister to the worldly very smart young woman matching wits and outsmarting the Devil himself was a beauty to behold.
Highly Recommended!
Two Thumbs Up!
For me, this film is inspired by the experience of being human—struggling to survive, do my best, and show kindness in tumultuous times. I wrote it before the Covid pandemic, back when I almost romanticized the idea of discarding my phone and leaving society behind. After living through the last few years, my perspective on the idea of a post-apocalyptic world has changed dramatically. Now, the film and its story are about holding on tightly to your family and loved ones, even when times are tough and the world around you feels cold. I also know a lot of tough women, so the character of Mae is inspired by the tough women in my life who keep things moving and endure my endless daydreaming!
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