Heretic (Mini-Review)

Heretic is a horror movie. Two Mormon missionaries go to a man's house in order to talk about the Church of Latter-day Saints. While at first he appears welcoming, his darker intentions are slowly revealed. Escape isn't just about survival, though, it's about belief. Heretic was released in 2024. It was directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. It stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East.

There are no mid or post credits scenes. However, the song that plays during the credits relates to themes discussed in the movie.

This movie is a very long discussion about the nature of religion and belief. So if you don't like lots of talking, you won't like this movie. If you want the movie to say for certain what the 'one true religion' is, you'll be disappointed. You can't trust any one character to actually know what's going on. Heck, if anyone is in what we would call reality by the end is up to debate. I do want to discuss that, but can't in a spoiler free review. Plus I need time to think about the ending. A lot of time.

My favorite book of all time is The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. This movie does seem to reference a few nods to the first part of that book aka Dante's Inferno. There is a picture of how Dante wrote about Hell and there is a light fixture that immediately made me think of Hell. One of the missionaries talks about having to go deeper into the house in order to escape. Just like how Dante had to travel into the depths of Hell to eventually reach Heaven.

Sister Paxton is the character who goes through the most grown throughout the movie. At first she is all too willing to play nice and needs Sister Barnes to focus. But as the movie progresses and she's pushed into more intense situations, she begins to grow stronger.

I would recommend Heretic to those seeking a less gore-filled horror movie.