Heretic Review

 

I saw Heretic, and here are my thoughts...

 

Heretic is about two Mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a man named Mr. Reed (which sounds like mystery connection???) only to discover his is playing a darker game that will test their faith.

 

The movie starts off like what I call a “polite thriller," where characters feel and suspect something off or threatening is happening to them but are trying to get through it with politeness, which is where the tension comes from... so a lot of uncomfortable smiles.

 

A lot of this is helped by Hugh Grant’s performance, who takes his “charmingly befuddled” screen persona and uses it to make the character seem likable at first, but then quickly becomes very strange and scary in his overpoliteness. 

 

The two leads (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) are both terrific. East in a more naïve but sweet way and Thatcher in a more clever but struggling with her faith kind of way. It’s a good dichotomy between the two characters, and both have a lot of emotions they have to go through (levels of fear), and both are very good and sympathetic.

 

The first half or so is Mr. Reed questioning the girls on the different aspects of religion, their faith, and the nature of their belief... This is all written with very sharp and smart dialogue, mixed with very well crafted and effective directing by the filmmakers. You can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into both, and it’s very enjoyable to watch.

 

I will say the film is very effective at keeping you on your toes, like usually I’m pretty good about sussing out where a story is going, but threw out most of this, I had no idea what was going to happen next. It kept me highly engaged throughout, which is very commendable.

 

I’m not going to go into spoilers, but there are a lot of interesting ideas introduced in the second half or so; unfortunately, where the movie ends up, I thought was a little lackluster and underwhelming compared to the beginning, almost like the filmmakers brought themselves into a corner and weren’t sure how to get out of it... I did like the very last scene though.

 

Topher Grace is in the film in a very small part, mostly to add tension, but it’s always nice to see him pop up in things. 

 

The sound mixing was fantastic; the way they mixed all the creeks and cracks and sounds of the house really added to the tension.

 

Props to the decorators; the look of everything had a cozy woodland cabin home, tranquil church, and creepy forest feeling that was very nice to look at... kinda like Buffalo Bills summer cabin lol

 

Again, for the most part, the dialogue is very good at exploring the belief and disbelief in God the characters are, in a very understandable but clever and funny way.

Without spoiling anything, there is a pretty funny Star Wars reference in, it made me laugh lol

 

So in summation, I overall enjoyed the film. The filmmaking  and performances were very well done and entertaining; I just wish where it all led was more satisfying and less generic in its ending. It’s a movie. I feel like you’ll watch it once and get a good time out of it... but repeat feelings not so much; it’s really up to the viewer.

 

I give it a high three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️