Edit filter log

'{{Short description|2024 horror film}} {{about|the 2024 film|other similarly-named films|Heretic (disambiguation)#Film and theatre}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox film | image = Heretic film poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Scott Beck and Bryan Woods|Scott Beck<br>Bryan Woods]] | writer = {{Plainlist| * Scott Beck * Bryan Woods }} | producer = {{Plainlist| * [[Stacey Sher]] * Scott Beck * Bryan Woods * Julia Glausi * Jeanette Volturno }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Hugh Grant]] * [[Sophie Thatcher]] * [[Chloe East]] }} | cinematography = [[Chung Chung-hoon]] | editing = Justin Li | music = [[Chris Bacon (composer)|Chris Bacon]] | studio = {{Plainlist| * Beck/Woods * Shiny Penny }} | distributor = [[A24]] | released = {{Film date|2024|9|8|[[2024 Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|2024|11|8|United States}} | runtime = 111 minutes<ref name="BBFC">{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2024|title=''Heretic'' (15)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/heretic-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdiynti1|access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = <$10 million<!--sourced in production section--> | gross = $20.2 million<ref name="NUM">{{Cite web |title= Heretic – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Heretic-(2024)#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=November 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{cite web|title=Heretic (2024)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt28015403/?ref_=bo_rl_ti|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[IMDb]]|access-date=November 15, 2024}}</ref> }} '''''Heretic''''' is a 2024 American [[psychological horror]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Tasha |date=2024-11-08 |title=Yes, the horror movie Heretic is about current American politics, according to its directors |url=https://www.polygon.com/horror/476025/heretic-directors-interview-religion-politics-state-of-america |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Jack |date=2024-11-01 |title=Heretic's directors on Hugh Grant's freaky era, Mormonism, and cinema smell-o-vision |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/heretic-directors-interview |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2024-10-31 |title=Heretic review – religious horror with a suave, dapper and evil Hugh Grant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/31/heretic-review-religious-horror-with-a-suave-dapper-and-evil-hugh-grant |access-date=2024-11-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> film written and directed by [[Scott Beck and Bryan Woods]]. It stars [[Hugh Grant]], [[Sophie Thatcher]], and [[Chloe East]], and follows two [[Mormon missionary|missionaries]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] who attempt to convert a reclusive Englishman, only to realize he is more dangerous than he seems. The film had its world premiere at the [[2024 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] on September 8, 2024, and was released in the United States by [[A24]] on November 8, 2024. It received very positive reviews from critics and has grossed $16 million worldwide. ==Plot== {{Long plot|date=November 2024}} Two [[Mormon missionary|Mormon missionaries]], confident Sister Barnes and timid Sister Paxton, arrive at the home of a reclusive Englishman, Mr. Reed. They enter after Reed tells them his wife is preparing a blueberry pie, and they begin to discuss religion, with Reed making several uncomfortable comments about the Mormon faith and the nature of belief. When Reed steps out of the room, Barnes realizes that the smell of blueberry pie is from a candle, the front door is locked, and they have no phone signal. Following Reed, they enter his study, where he proceeds to give a threatening lecture arguing that all religions are adaptations of one another, and claims to have found the one true religion. Reed gives the girls a choice of two doors to go through in order to exit the house, one if they still believe in God, and one if they do not. Barnes rebels, refuting several of his claims, before they both enter the "Belief" door, only to discover both doors lead to the same dungeon. A decrepit woman appears, eats a poisoned pie, and dies, with Reed claiming that she is a Prophet of God and the pair will witness her resurrection. A Mormon elder arrives looking for the girls but leaves after discovering nothing. The girls unsuccessfully try screaming to get the Elder's attention, and after returning to the dungeon they witness the Prophet rise again and describe the afterlife. Barnes rejects the Prophet's description, noting its similarity to common hallucinations from [[Near death experience|near-death experiences]]. When Barnes gives Paxton a signal to attack Reed, he slashes Barnes's throat and claims that she, too, will resurrect. After Barnes bleeds out, Reed removes a metal object from inside her arm, claiming it is a microchip and it proves that Barnes was not real and the world is a simulation. Paxton, however, recognises the object as a [[contraceptive implant]], and realizes that everything was carefully orchestrated by Reed; while the girls were distracted by the Elder's arrival, a second woman hid the Prophet's corpse before taking her place and delivering the afterlife description as scripted by Reed, adding an unplanned comment: "It's not real." Reed's killing of Barnes and attempt to convince Paxton of a simulated reality was an improvisation to cover the plan going awry. Paxton discovers an underground chute through which the Prophet's corpse was hidden and climbs down with Reed promising it will show her the "[[Religious exclusivism|one true religion]]." Paxton finds a chamber full of emaciated women in cages, where she deduces Reed's conclusion: that a desire to control others is the root of all religions. Paxton stabs Reed with a letter opener, but Reed stabs her as she tries to escape. As they bleed in the basement, Paxton begins to pray, claiming to a vexed Reed that it is done to show kindness to others rather than to produce material results. Reed prepares to finish her off, but a still-living Barnes kills him with a plank of wood before dying. Paxton climbs out of a window and sees a butterfly land on her hand; she had earlier expressed a desire to be reincarnated as a butterfly that appears on the hands of her loved ones. The butterfly suddenly vanishes, leaving an injured and confused Paxton alone in the snowy landscape. ==Cast== * [[Hugh Grant]] as Mr. Reed<ref name="Trailer">{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=June 25, 2024 |title=''Heretic'' Trailer: Hugh Grant Lures Pair Of Missionaries Into Cat-And-Mouse Game In A24 Horror Film From ''A Quiet Place'' Duo |url=https://deadline.com/video/heretic-trailer-hugh-grant-a24/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> * [[Sophie Thatcher]] as Sister Barnes<ref name="Trailer"/> * [[Chloe East]] as Sister Paxton<ref name="Trailer"/> * [[Topher Grace]] as Elder Kennedy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.a24films.com/films/heretic|title=Heretic|website=[[A24|A24 Publicity]]|access-date=September 9, 2024}}</ref> * Elle Young as Prophet<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hullender |first=Tatiana |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Hugh Grant & Heretic Team Talk Exploring Mormonism Through A Horror Lens [TIFF] |url=https://screenrant.com/heretic-hugh-grant-sophie-thatcher-tiff-2024-interview/ |access-date=October 19, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> ==Production== In June 2023, it was reported that [[Scott Beck and Bryan Woods]] wrote and would direct the [[A24]] film, ''Heretic''. [[Hugh Grant]] and [[Chloe East]] were cast in lead roles.<ref name="THR1">{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=June 9, 2023 |title=''The Fabelmans'' Breakout Chloe East in Talks for A24 Thriller from Scott Beck, Bryan Woods (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/a24-thriller-heretic-chloe-east-1235510779/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610155400/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/a24-thriller-heretic-chloe-east-1235510779/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The production was granted an interim agreement allowing filming during the [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/feature/sag-aftra-interim-agreements-list-movies-tv-series-1235446661/ |title=SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements: Full List Of Movies And TV Series |website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick |last=Hipes |date=August 16, 2023 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010318/https://deadline.com/feature/sag-aftra-interim-agreements-list-movies-tv-series-1235446661/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On a budget of under $10 million,<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2024|last=Coyle|first=Jake|title=''Heretic'' and Hugh Grant debut with $11 million, but ''Venom: The Last Dance'' tops box office again |url=https://apnews.com/article/box-office-heretic-venom-last-dance-christmas-pageant-954b7e1b4812ff960759ef0ae8324208# |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] took place in [[Vancouver]] over 30 days from October 3 to November 16, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2023|title=In Production British Columbia|url=https://creativebc.com/services/provincial-film-commission/in-production/ |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=[[Creative BC Film Commission]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821163202/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://creativebc.com/services/provincial-film-commission/in-production|archive-date=August 21, 2023|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |title=Directors Scott Beck, Bryan Woods talk courting Hugh Grant for their TIFF religion horror ''Heretic'' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/directors-scott-beck-bryan-woods-talk-courting-hugh-grant-for-their-tiff-religion-horror-heretic/5196988.article |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=[[Screen Daily]]}}</ref> ==Release== ''Heretic'' premiered at the [[2024 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] on September 8, 2024.<ref name="tiff2">{{cite web |url=https://tiff.net/events/heretic |title=Heretic |website=[[Toronto International Film Festival]] |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref><ref name="tiff">{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 22, 2024 |title=TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres From Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics With Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int'='l Premieres ''Conclave'' & ''Piece By Piece'', More |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/2024-toronto-film-festival-lineup-movies-list-1236017283/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The film was scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 15, 2024,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/a24-the-front-room-a-different-man-we-live-in-time-heretic-baby-girl-1235944716/|title=A24 Dates Fall & Holiday Slate With 'The Front Room', 'A Different Man', 'We Live In Time', 'Heretic' & 'Baby Girl'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D’Alessandro|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2024|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530164145/https://deadline.com/2024/05/a24-the-front-room-a-different-man-we-live-in-time-heretic-baby-girl-1235944716/|url-status=live}}</ref> before it was moved up from its original release date of November 15 to November 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3831868/heretic-release-date-and-trailer-2nd-hugh-grant/|title= ''Heretic'' 2nd Trailer Brings New Release Date and Closer Look at Hugh Grant's Sinister Villain|first=Megan|last=Navarro|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|date=September 19, 2024|access-date=September 19, 2024}}</ref> It was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland a week earlier on November 1.<ref name="BBFC"/> ==Reception== === Box office === {{As of|2024|11|13|df=US}}, ''Heretic'' has grossed $11{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada, and $5{{nbsp}}million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $16{{nbsp}}million.<ref name=BOM/><ref name="NUM" /> In the United States and Canada, ''Heretic'' was released alongside ''[[The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (film)|The Best Christmas Pageant Ever]]'', ''[[Elevation (film)|Elevation]]'', ''[[Weekend in Taipei]]'', and the wide expansion of ''[[Anora (film)|Anora]]'', and was projected to gross around $8 million from 3,221 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hugh Grant’s ‘Heretic’ Could Scare Off ‘Venom 3’ This Weekend; Curtains Lift On ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ – Box Office Preview|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/venom-last-dance-heretic-box-office-preview-1236169334/|date=November 8, 2024 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The film made $4.3 million on its first day, including $1.2 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $11 million, finishing second behind holdover ''[[Venom: The Last Dance]]''.<ref name=opening>{{Cite web |title= ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ $18M+, ‘Christmas Pageant’ & ‘Heretic’ Remain In Dead Heat For No. 2 With $12M+ Apiece – Veterans Day Box Office |url= https://deadline.com/2024/11/box-office-heretic-best-christmas-pageant-ever-1236170937/ |date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> === Critical response === {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|92|7.4|185|Hugh Grant has infectious fun playing against type in ''Heretic'', a religious horror that preaches the gospel of cerebral chills over cheap shocks.|ref=yes|access-date=November 8, 2024}} {{Metacritic film prose|72|47|ref=yes|access-date=November 8, 2024}} Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by [[PostTrak]] gave it a 70% overall positive score.<ref name=opening/> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|https://a24films.com/films/heretic}} * {{IMDb title}} {{Scott Beck and Bryan Woods}} [[Category:2024 horror thriller films]] [[Category:2020s American films]] [[Category:2020s English-language films]] [[Category:A24 (company) films]] [[Category:American horror thriller films]] [[Category:Films about Mormonism]] [[Category:Films about violence against women]] [[Category:Films critical of religion]] [[Category:Films directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods]] [[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]] [[Category:Films with atheism-related themes]] [[Category:Mormonism and women]] [[Category:Mormonism in fiction]] [[Category:Religious horror films]] [[Category:Religious thriller films]] [[Category:Works about Mormon missionaries]] [[Category:English-language horror thriller films]]'