Despite this year’s horror season having come and gone, A24 has delivered another nail-biting flick sure to get in your head. This cozy psychological thriller works its way into the psyche, making audiences question their beliefs surrounding religion, the afterlife, and truth itself.
The film opens with two Mormon missionaries — Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes — going door to door, offering information on their religion and their heavenly father. They stumble upon the seemingly innocent Mr. Reed, who tests the girls’ faith and trust in the Mormon lifestyle. This makes for a horrific journey into the depths of their minds.
The aesthetic of this film, full of varnished antiques, truly caught my eye. We see this mostly within Mr. Reed’s home — it has a very antique-shop feel, especially the front room they first sit down in. It welcomes you, yet also fills you with liminal feelings, lending the scene a familiar yet eerie look. This touch shows why the girls trust him from the beginning. They get invited in, and they decide to accept it over standing out in the rainstorm. The home feels like experiencing a grandparent’s home as a child. The nostalgia of it all puts you on edge.
I loved the casting in this movie. There are three main characters in the film, with the occasional cameo or quick 2-liner. Of the two main heroines, the first is played by child star Chloe East and the second is played Yellowjackets star Sophie Thatcher. With both being relatively small names on the rise, this movie gives them the opportunity to show their talent in a serious, emotional role. The two were also raised in the Mormon church, though neither are currently practicing. This gives them a personal tie to the characters, and to me, it seems as though they are not trying to make a mockery of the lifestyle. The two are paired alongside the insatiable Hugh Grant, an actor known mostly for his work in romantic comedy films all across the ‘90s and early 2000s. This is a step out of character from his average type cast and I found it quite intriguing. Grant’s performance was not too different from his previous performances, but it added a creepy edge to the seemingly sweet old man.
I did not go in expecting much from this film. I thought it’d be another kidnapping thriller to spook ya and move along. It pleasantly surprised me with a new horror aesthetic that I hope to see more of in the future: cozy creep. I think this film does well as a new winter scaries favorite for snowy weekends where you’re stuck inside. Heretic makes you think, but you can still enjoy its thrills. I give this a 3.5 out of 5 and will revisit it again around the holidays.
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