Heretic

Plot Summary

The film is set in Boulder, Colorado, where two young missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes, visit the home of a middle-aged man named Mr. Reed. Reed, who has expressed interest in their faith, invites them inside, assuring them his wife is home. As they discuss religion, Reed makes increasingly uncomfortable comments, revealing his deep but cynical study of theology. The missionaries grow suspicious when they realize the scent of a promised blueberry pie is from a candle and discover the front door is locked on a timer.

Reed presents the women with a sinister choice between two doors, labelled for belief and non-belief, to exit the house. He delivers a lecture arguing all religions are mere iterations of earlier myths, comparing the birth of Jesus to that of Mithras and Horus. Both doors lead to the same basement, where a horrifying scenario unfolds with a decrepit woman who eats poisoned pie and dies, with Reed claiming she is a prophet who will resurrect. When the woman does reappear and describes an afterlife, Barnes rejects it as similar to hallucinations from near-death experiences, prompting Reed to slash her throat in an improvised move to cover his plan going awry.

Reed then removes a contraceptive implant from Barnes's arm, claiming it is a microchip proving life is a simulation. Paxton discovers the ruse involves an accomplice who hid the corpse and took its place, with Reed's killing of Barnes being an unplanned improvisation. Paxton escapes through an underground chute into a series of chambers, the last of which is locked with the same lock she used on her bicycle and contains emaciated women in cages. She realizes Reed's ultimate goal is to prove his belief that all religions are rooted in a desire to control others. In a final confrontation, Paxton stabs Reed with a letter opener but is stabbed in return, and as they both lie bleeding, she prays out of concern for others rather than for material results. The gravely injured Barnes reappears and kills Reed by bashing his head with a nailed plank before she collapses and dies, allowing Paxton to escape through a vent.

Production and Development

The film was written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who were inspired by films like Inherit the Wind and Contact for their serious yet accessible treatment of religious themes in a popcorn movie context. The writing was prompted by personal experience, specifically the death of Woods's father from esophageal cancer and the subsequent questions about mortality and what happens after death. To ensure authenticity in portraying the two missionary characters and avoid clichés, the filmmakers consulted with various Mormon friends during the writing and production process. They also relied on insights from actors Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, who are ex-Mormons themselves and could provide firsthand perspective on the culture and mindset.

Casting saw Hugh Grant chosen for the role of Mr. Reed after the directors saw his performance playing six different characters in the 2012 film Cloud Atlas. Principal photography took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, from October 3 to November 16, 2023, on a budget under $10 million. The production was able to proceed during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike under an interim agreement, which was crucial for maintaining its schedule. The film was shot in chronological order, an uncommon practice that can aid actor performance and narrative cohesion. A notable creative choice was the inclusion of a statement in the end credits declaring that no generative artificial intelligence was used in the film's making, a point the directors said was important to highlight as a topic for industry discussion even though the film does not visually suggest AI use.

Release and Box Office Performance

Heretic had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024. It was subsequently released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 1, 2024, followed by its United States theatrical release by A24 on November 8, 2024. The film was a commercial success, grossing $60 million worldwide against its $10 million production budget, representing a significant profit. In its domestic opening weekend in the United States and Canada, it debuted in second place at the box office behind the holdover Venom: The Last Dance, earning $11 million from 3,221 theatres after making $4.3 million on its first day including $1.2 million from Thursday previews.

The film held reasonably well in subsequent weeks, demonstrating sustained audience interest despite mixed viewer scores. It made $5 million in its second weekend, representing a drop of 54.1 percent, finishing in fourth place, and then $2.2 million in its third weekend, finishing seventh. By February 17, 2025, it had earned $28 million domestically and $31.2 million in other international territories for a worldwide total of $59.2 million. This performance solidified it as a profitable venture for the independent studio A24 and demonstrated the market viability of intellectually driven horror. The film's release strategy, beginning with a prestigious festival premiere, helped generate critical buzz that translated into solid theatrical returns against competition like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Elevation.

Critical Reception

Heretic received positive reviews from critics, earning a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 291 reviews with an average rating of 7.3 out of 10. The website's consensus highlighted Hugh Grant's infectious fun playing against type in a religious horror that preaches the gospel of cerebral chills over cheap shocks. On Metacritic, it achieved a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 49 critics, indicating generally favourable reviews. Audience reactions were more mixed, with CinemaScore reporting an average grade of C+ from polling, while PostTrak reported a 70% overall positive score, suggesting a divide between critical appreciation and mainstream audience expectations for the horror genre.

Reviewers praised various elements of the film. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com commended the performances, cinematography and the script, calling it a marvelous blend of religious history and sociopathic behaviour. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as gruesome and bizarre and preposterous, while singling out Grant's suave, dapper and evil portrayal. McKay Coppins in The Atlantic framed the film as a horror movie about an atheist who won't shut up. Filmmaker Rich Peppiatt named it one of his top 10 feature films of 2024, praising Grant's performance specifically. The film was noted for its unpredictable and tense narrative, though some critics felt the plot began to fizzle out in the final act, a point noted in some contemporary reviews.

Cultural and Religious Responses

The film's subject matter prompted specific responses from religious organizations and commentators. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an official statement condemning the film's portrayal of violence against women. Following this, the church posted an article on its website focused on missionary safety, intended to address public questions and assist journalists regarding the well-being of missionaries. Conversely, a number of former members of the church praised Heretic for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of missionaries and their experiences, seeing value in its depiction beyond the horror context.

Christian commentators also engaged deeply with the film's themes. Christian apologist Robin Schumacher, writing in The Christian Post, analysed the character of Mr. Reed as someone who makes himself a god to control others, a concept he found frightening and consistent with Fyodor Dostoevsky's dictum that without God all things are permitted. However, Schumacher and other reviewers, such as Bret Eckelberry for Plugged In, criticized the film for presenting the Christ myth theory as a shocking revelation. They described this as a poorly evidenced fringe hypothesis widely rejected by both Christian and secular scholars, taking issue with the film presenting it as factual argument. These discussions highlighted the film's role in stimulating debate about faith, atheism, and historical claims beyond the confines of entertainment.

Accolades and Recognition

The film and its cast received several major award nominations following its release, highlighting its impact within the industry. Hugh Grant's performance as the sinister Mr. Reed earned him Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics' Choice Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). These nominations marked a significant recognition for Grant in a dramatic and villainous role that was a stark departure from his more familiar comedic characters. The film's writers and directors, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, were nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay, acknowledging the strength of the film's written foundation and its conceptual ambition.

These accolades underscored the critical appreciation for the film's writing and central performance within the independent and genre film landscape. The recognition from organizations like BAFTA and the Independent Spirit Awards positioned Heretic as a notable entry in the year's cinematic offerings. While the film did not secure wins in these major categories, the nominations themselves contributed to the film's longevity in cultural conversations and its prestige beyond the initial theatrical run. The award attention also validated A24's model of supporting distinctive directorial visions that challenge genre conventions.

Music and Technical Details

A distinctive musical element of the film is the end credits song, a cover of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door performed by star Sophie Thatcher. The arrangement of the song is noted to be similar in style to Mazzy Star's dream pop hit Fade into You, creating a haunting and melancholic tone that complements the film's themes of faith and mortality. This musical choice adds an additional layer of emotional resonance to the conclusion of the narrative, directly connecting to Paxton's earlier dialogue about visiting loved ones as a butterfly after death. The use of a familiar song reinterpreted in a sombre key effectively extends the film's atmospheric tension beyond the final scene.

Beyond the music, the film's technical production was grounded in traditional filmmaking practices with specific philosophical stances. The directors' decision to shoot in chronological order is a technical detail that influenced the actors' performances and the organic pacing of the story, allowing the horror to escalate naturally for the cast. Furthermore, the explicit credit stating no generative AI was used reflects a conscious stance on contemporary production methods, with Woods explaining they wanted to put the statement out there to spur conversation even though the film does not feel AI-generated. The film was shot on location in Vancouver, utilizing the Canadian city's versatile landscapes and studio spaces to create the isolated and tense atmosphere of the Colorado setting, with all filming completed within a tight six-week schedule.

Themes and Interpretation

The film centrally explores the conflict between faith and a nihilistic worldview that sees religion as a tool for control. Mr. Reed's entire scheme is an elaborate experiment designed to prove his thesis that all religions are merely iterations of earlier myths, created to manipulate followers. This is visually manifested in the two doors that lead to the same destination, symbolizing his belief that all spiritual paths are fraudulent and lead to the same empty conclusion. The basement prison of emaciated women represents the ultimate endpoint of this philosophy, where the seeker of truth becomes a tyrant who physically enacts his control over others in a perverse imitation of divine authority.

Conversely, the missionaries represent a faith based on community and selfless concern. Paxton's final act of praying out of concern for other people, even while bleeding and facing death, directly counters Reed's cynical framework. Her prayer is not a transactional plea for salvation but an expression of empathy, which the film presents as a genuine alternative to Reed's isolation and cruelty. The ambiguous final image of the butterfly, which Paxton earlier associated with a hopeful afterlife connection, vanishing upon touch leaves the ultimate truth of her faith intentionally unresolved. The film thus avoids endorsing either a purely religious or purely atheistic viewpoint, instead presenting a horrifying examination of what happens when the desire to disprove belief becomes a fanatical and violent religion of its own.

Questions about Heretic

Where was the movie Heretic filmed?

Principal photography for Heretic took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Filming occurred from October 3 to November 16, 2023, under an interim agreement that allowed work during the SAG-AFTRA strike. The production utilized the city's locations and studio facilities to create the setting for the story, which is nominally set in Boulder, Colorado. Shooting in Vancouver is a common practice for many American film productions due to economic and logistical factors, and the entire film was shot in chronological order over this six-week period.

Is Heretic based on a true story?

No, Heretic is not based on a specific true story or real-life events. It is an original work of fiction written by directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. However, the filmmakers drew inspiration from personal experiences, such as the death of Woods's father from esophageal cancer, which prompted profound questions about life after death. They also conducted extensive research and consulted with individuals familiar with Mormon missionary work to add authenticity to the portrayal of the two central characters, though the plot of manipulation and horror is a complete fictional construct.

What is the meaning of the ending of Heretic?

The ending of Heretic is deliberately ambiguous and thematic. After surviving the ordeal and witnessing Barnes's death, Paxton escapes and sees a butterfly land on her hand, a direct reference to her earlier expressed hope to visit loved ones as a butterfly after death. The butterfly then vanishes, leaving the reality of the moment and the nature of her experience open to interpretation. The finale underscores the film's central themes of faith, perception, and whether signs are meaningful spiritual affirmations or merely psychological illusions, refusing to provide a definitive answer to the questions it raises.

Did Hugh Grant win any awards for Heretic?

Hugh Grant did not win the major awards for which he was nominated, but his performance received significant critical recognition. He earned Best Actor nominations for his role as Mr. Reed at the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics' Choice Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). These nominations highlighted widespread critical acclaim for his dramatic departure into a sinister and manipulative horror role, marking a notable career shift. The film's writers, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, also received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Screenplay, further cementing the film's artistic credentials.

How did the Mormon Church react to the film Heretic?

The LDS Church released a statement condemning the film's portrayal of violence against women. Following this, they posted an article on missionary safety intended to assist journalists and the public with questions regarding the safety and well being of missionaries. This official condemnation contrasted with the views of a number of former Latter day Saints who praised the film for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of missionaries. The church's response aimed to distance its official stance from the film's violent content while providing resources on a related practical concern.

Who sings the song at the end of Heretic?

Actress Sophie Thatcher performs a cover version of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door over the end credits. Thatcher also stars in the film as Sister Barnes, one of the two young Mormon missionaries. The arrangement of her cover is noted to be similar to Mazzy Star's dream pop song Fade into You. This musical choice provides a melancholic and haunting conclusion to the film's intense psychological horror narrative. The performance by a cast member adds a personal connection to the film's thematic exploration of faith and mortality.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.