Hugh Grant meets the horror genre in A24’s Heretic. And from the looks of the exclusive clip above, it’s a match made in heaven. (Or more accurately, hell.)
The latest film from writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place, 65) stars Grant as Mr. Reed, a religious skeptic who traps Mormon missionaries Sister Paxton (The Fabelmans‘ Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Yellowjackets‘ Sophie Thatcher) in a game of wits that will test their faith. In the clip, it’s clear the Sisters want out, claiming they’ve been called back to their local ward. However, Mr. Reed calls them on their bluff, as metal in his house’s walls and ceilings prevents any calls from getting in.
“I am trying — have been trying — very hard to make it a point not to pressure you, so you shouldn’t even feel the need to fabricate a story about someone from your ward calling you to leave,” he tells them. Of course, this sounds exactly like what someone who is trying to pressure you would say. And it only gets creepier from there!
Mr. Reed continues, telling Barnes and Paxton that “it is totally fine for you to leave on your own accord. You never need to feel like you have to make excuses or tell me little white lies.”
I don’t know, Mr. Reed, maybe they would feel more comfortable leaving if you weren’t forcing them into your creepy basement, like we see in the trailer!
Heretic may be cooking up some more traditional frights, but from this clip alone, Mr. Reed’s friendly facade and manipulation seem like the scariest things in the movie.