Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smart, taut horror movie mixes violence, religious debate.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Heretic
What's the Story?
In HERETIC, two young Mormon women—Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East)—are out doing some recruiting for the church. The last person on their list for the day is Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant). He appears cheerful and invites the girls in, assuring them that his wife is in the other room, baking a blueberry pie. He explains that he's been seeking a new faith, and the sisters are very excited by the idea of a new convert. But before long, Sister Barnes realizes that something is wrong. The front door is locked, their cell phones don't work, and Mr. Reed has taken their coats, which is where the key to their bike lock is. Then they're summoned into another room, which is decorated something like a church. The now sinister Mr. Reed has something he wants to say, and a test of faith he wants to administer.
Is It Any Good?
This smart, tense horror movie is almost all talk, and yet it manages to feel cinematic thanks to its cunning set design, editing, and camera movement, as well as three finely tuned performances. Written and directed by filmmaking team Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (writers of A Quiet Place and The Boogeyman and directors of Haunt and 65), Heretic feels heavily researched and in some ways plays out like a spirited classroom lecture on the history of religion. Or, rather, it's a debate, since the sisters are able to give as good as they get. The discourse is intelligent, getting more and more prickly as it gets deeper and darker, and the conclusion is downright chilling.
Grant's performance is a complete turnaround from his foppish nice-guy persona: He oozes menace without getting hammy. His co-stars equal him with their expertly modulated turns. The directors keep the longish 110-minute running time feeling brisk and kinetic as the restless camera lurks all through the creepy house—Reed keeps a 3D model of it in his church room—while a Japanese water fountain (a sōzu) clinks ominously every couple of minutes. The movie is correctly classified as horror, but not in the "scary" sense. There are no jumps or jolts, just a general sense of dreadfulness. It may benefit from rewatching, as bits and pieces of it, in hindsight, feel like a bit of a stretch. But Heretic is still a unique achievement: a movie that offers chills for the mind and spirit as well as the body.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Heretic's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What were your takeaways from the movie's discussions about religion, faith, and belief? Were they pessimistic or optimistic? Somewhere in between?
How are women portrayed in the movie? Do they have agency?
The movie has several mentions of well-known brands and products. Did you feel like it was advertising or product placement? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 8, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : December 10, 2024
- Cast : Hugh Grant , Sophie Thatcher , Chloe East
- Directors : Scott Beck , Bryan Woods
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some bloody violence
- Awards : BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : August 7, 2025
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