Review of "Heretic," the New Gem from A24

"What can we expect from a veteran and accomplished actor like Hugh Grant? As anticipated, the Brit brings a dark character to life with dedication and devotion, skillfully delivering ambiguity and planting doubts about his true intentions."

While this has been a fantastic year for all fans of horror and suspense, with releases like Longlegs and When Evil Lurks, we cannot overlook the feature film gifted to us by directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods: Heretic.

Heretic immediately places us in a believable scenario, where two Mormon missionaries, Sisters Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Paxton (Chloe East), visit the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) to discuss their faith. However, as the conversation unfolds, the two young women begin to suspect that something is not quite right.

With tension crafted and calibrated down to the finest detail and a meticulously written script, this suspense film leaves no room for boredom and manages to engage the audience from the moment the young women step into the seemingly kind man’s home.

"What can we expect from a veteran and accomplished actor like Hugh Grant? As expected, the Brit brings a dark character to life with dedication and passion."

What can we expect from a veteran and accomplished actor like Hugh Grant? As anticipated, the Brit masterfully brings to life a dark character, delivering ambiguity at will and planting doubts about his true intentions. His performance serves as the crowning jewel and standout element of the film, complemented by the well-crafted atmosphere and the clever use of silence to heighten unease in various scenes.

While several critics have drawn connections between certain elements of the film and “Saw” (2004) or “Escape Room” (2019), the direction Heretic takes sets it apart in a remarkable way.

This thorny and, at times, uncomfortable thriller relies on tension simmered slowly but steadily. It is ambitious and intriguing, with sinister nuances delivered by the protagonist's duality, which undoubtedly adds a hefty dose of intrigue to the experience.

Perhaps the only notable downside is the direction the film takes toward its conclusion, with some clichés and a predictable, underwhelming ending after having led us through a stormy sea of suspense. Nonetheless, Heretic manages to leave a bitter aftertaste during its viewing, offering us an unconventional "villain" in highly unusual circumstances.