Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.
- Awards
- 8 nominations
Carolyn Adair
- Driver with Car
- (uncredited)
River Codack
- Missionary #1 (Elder Simmons)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
21st Century Scream Queens
21st Century Scream Queens
Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East in Heretic, plus more modern women killing the horror game.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSophie Thatcher and Chloe East were both raised Mormon so were able to give valuable insight into the religion when shooting the movie. They are no longer Mormons.
- GoofsMr Reed is stabbed in the neck with a letter opener, which he then pulls out. This would cause blood to leak out all over his hand, clothes, the floor...but later in the basement, there's little evidence of this when near the trapdoor.
- Crazy creditsThe end credits state that no Generative Al was used in the making of the film.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Movie Reviews: Heretic | The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
- SoundtracksJust Like a Butterfly (That's Caught in the Rain)
Performed by Ipana Troubadours
Written by Harry M. Woods (as Harry Woods) and Mort Dixon
Published by Callicoon Music (ASCAP), Bienstock Publishing Company obo Redwood Music Ltd. (PRS), Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (PRS)
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment (Canada)
Featured review
I saw seven films at this year's TIFF, and the one that got my vote for best picture was HERETIC starring Hugh Grant (who also would have gotten my vote for best actor if that was a voting category). I was very impressed seeing him get in touch with his dark side in the HBO miniseries THE UNDOING, but here he takes it to 11 playing an affable, religion-obsessed psychopath. It's a break from his rom-com persona of schizophrenic proportions.
Co-stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are also excellent playing two Mormon missionary girls who think that they will be calling on someone interested in converting to Mormonism. But Grant turns out to be far more erudite - and questioning -- about religion than they expected. When they realize that he's not really interested in converting but more in debating religion, they try to depart but discover that they're trapped inside. So begins a cat and mouse game where Grant puts their faith to the test.
As horror goes, it's solid, but doesn't reach the extremes of similarly claustrophobic horror films like FUNNY GAMES (original) and SPEAK NO EVIL (2022 version). The outcome is refreshingly unconventional. My only cavil is that the choice of Mormonism for the religion seems a tad calculated.
In short, see this movie if you've ever enjoyed a Hugh Grant film and want to see him at the peak of his game. I haven't felt this sure about an acting Oscar nomination for a TIFF film since I saw Allison Janney in I TONYA in 2017
Side note: There was a Q & A after the film and several people commended me on the way out for a question I asked: "Was Richard Dawkins an influence?" Co-director Bryan Woods confirmed that he was.
Co-stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are also excellent playing two Mormon missionary girls who think that they will be calling on someone interested in converting to Mormonism. But Grant turns out to be far more erudite - and questioning -- about religion than they expected. When they realize that he's not really interested in converting but more in debating religion, they try to depart but discover that they're trapped inside. So begins a cat and mouse game where Grant puts their faith to the test.
As horror goes, it's solid, but doesn't reach the extremes of similarly claustrophobic horror films like FUNNY GAMES (original) and SPEAK NO EVIL (2022 version). The outcome is refreshingly unconventional. My only cavil is that the choice of Mormonism for the religion seems a tad calculated.
In short, see this movie if you've ever enjoyed a Hugh Grant film and want to see him at the peak of his game. I haven't felt this sure about an acting Oscar nomination for a TIFF film since I saw Allison Janney in I TONYA in 2017
Side note: There was a Q & A after the film and several people commended me on the way out for a question I asked: "Was Richard Dawkins an influence?" Co-director Bryan Woods confirmed that he was.
The Year in Posters
The Year in Posters
From Alien: Romulus to Road House, take a look back at some of our favorite posters of 2024.
- How long is Heretic?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $27,504,451
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $10,829,810
- Nov 10, 2024
- Gross worldwide
- $42,488,873
- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content