-Written by Kyle Bain.
Two young missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), are tricked into playing a game, one that will force them to question their religion and their place in this world. When visiting Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), someone who has expressed their interest in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, their lives will quickly be turned upside down. Heretic is a haunting venture into the world of religion, exploring every inch of what it means and how it affects the world around us.
I effectively grew up in the church, tasked with going to services every Wednesday from the time I was five until I graduated middle school. This came as a result of me attending Catholic school from Kindergarten through eighth grade. I didn’t know any differently, and that just seemed like a way of life to me. I’ve grown to be able to question my own beliefs, determine what I feel is real and fabricated–and more importantly, “why?.” What I’m trying to say is that Heretic forced me to question my own beliefs, beyond what I already have, for an hour-and-forty-five minutes, which speaks volumes to the level of intelligence present in this script and the final product.
I’m a stubborn individual that is often willing and able to stick to my own points of view (though I’ve grown enough to look at multiple points of view now before making final decisions), and for a film to be able to so easily cause me to look both inward and outward at myself and the religion that I consider myself a part of is simply astounding. Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods develop a film that so easily crept its way into my mind, both mellowed and jarred me, and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Heretic is beautiful in this regard–harmonious and symphonic in a way that pulls viewers into it and forces them to play along. I never felt myself disconnected from the film, literally leaning into it as I yearned for more, anticipating Mr. Reed’s next move and how Sisters Barnes and Paxton would react.
Why do we believe the things that we do? Is it simply because we were told them at an impressionable age? Is it because we’ve seen something in our lives that has helped to cement these beliefs within us? Is it because we are looking for a crutch, or even a simple support during difficult times?
These questions and more are explored throughout the course of Heretic, again, forcing me to question myself, my religion, and all that I’ve known to be true throughout my life. While the film is beautiful in its fluid storytelling, it’s also daunting, dark, hard to swallow–because everything you know is now on the chopping block, and it’s hard to tell what pieces of you will survive by the conclusion of the film.
To some, Heretic may be regarded as anti-religion, but I think that claim would be false, as it analyzes both sides of the coin, allowing viewers to question their faith but also understand its purpose as well. Woods and Beck find a perfect balance in this regard, pushing the envelope in terms of how much they want to question the thousands of religions around the world, but ensuring that they leave some things open to interpretation as well.
Beyond the intellectual nature of Heretic, the use of light is what will ultimately allowed viewers to remain immersed in it. Flickering lights, long, dark caverns, lights on a timer, etc. all play a role in the development of the narrative, the characters, and the intensity that is present throughout the entirety of the film. Being confined to a relatively small set in Mr. Reed’s home throughout the majority of Heretic already creates a sense of claustrophobia, but the use of lighting to makes locations within the home seem even smaller strengthens every bit of this film–and intensifies it to a point that literally gave me anxiety.
The intensity pumps through the film like blood, almost as if you can feel it propelling every moment of Heretic. Everything listed above plays a role in helping to develop this, allowing it to peak at just the right moment(s) and then release, setting us up for more anxiety in the future. Heretic is immensely fun, powerfully influential, and perfectly tense from start to finish. It’s one of the best films of the year, and I found myself wanting more every step of the way.
Written & Directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods.
Starring Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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