Heretic (2024)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
In Boulder, Colorado, two LDS Church missionaries, Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes, visit the home of Mr. Reed, a man who has expressed interest in their faith. While they discuss religion, the atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling. After Reed claims his wife is in the kitchen, the women realize the scent of baking is merely a candle. They find themselves trapped inside as the front door is locked on a timer. As they attempt to navigate the house, Reed presents them with a series of disturbing theological arguments, leading to a tense confrontation where the true nature of his intentions begins to surface.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being told the front door is on a timer, the missionaries are forced to choose between two doors based on their belief in God. Both doors lead to a basement where a decrepit woman is shown to be a 'prophet' who dies after eating a poisoned pie. When Elder Kennedy arrives to search for them, Reed distracts him. In the basement, a second woman (posing as the prophet) delivers a speech about the afterlife. During a confrontation, Reed attacks Barnes, claiming she is not real and that life is a simulation, while she is actually wearing a contraceptive implant. Paxton discovers a series of chambers and a room of emaciated women in cages. She stabs Reed, but he stabs her in return. In the final moments, a wounded Barnes reappears and kills Reed with a plank of wood before dying. Paxton escapes through a vent, seeing a butterfly land on her hand before it vanishes.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Scott Beck; Bryan Woods
- Writers
- Scott Beck · writer; Bryan Woods · writer
- Cast and characters
- Hugh Grant · Mr. Reed; Sophie Thatcher · Sister Barnes; Chloe East · Sister Paxton; Topher Grace · Elder Kennedy
- Genres
- psychological horror; horror thriller
- Themes
- religion; faith; control; afterlife
- Setting
- Boulder, Colorado
- Premise and plot tags
- religious thriller; survival; psychological thriller
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews and was praised for its performances, particularly Hugh Grant's, and its blend of religious history and sociopathic behavior.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 49; PostTrak · score: 70% · scale: percent
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actor · Golden Globes · nomination; Best Actor · Critics' Choice Awards · nomination; Best Actor · BAFTA Awards · nomination; Best Screenplay · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was inspired by Inherit the Wind (1960) and Contact (1997).; The filmmakers consulted various Mormon friends and ex-Mormon actors to ensure authenticity.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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