As we continue to drown in mega-franchise prequel-sequels and the Nth retelling of superhero stories, we all find ourselves on the lookout for interesting anomalies in the entertainment landscape. One thing that has grabbed our attention here at Last Movie Outpost is Heretic.
A24, Boba Phil’s favorite independent production house, does push interesting content, and Heretic looks like it continues this streak.
It tells the story of a man who is visited by two young Mormon missionaries played by Chloe East (The Fabelmans) and Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) whom he puts through a series of intense psychological games. According to the blurb:
“Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.”
One of the most interesting parts of this is Hugh Grant as the man, and to all appearances, the bad guy of the story.
Heretic was shot in Vancouver during the strikes via an interim agreement. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods wrote John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place, Haunt, 65 and The Boogeyman.
It co-stars Elle McKinnon, River Codack, Carolyn Adair, Stephanie Lavigne, and Elle Young with Beck, Woods, Katie Aquino, Scott Beck, Liliane Bedford, Julia Glausi, Kai Raka, Stacey Sher, and Jeanette Volturno all producing.
Heretic premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024. The film was originally scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 15, 2024, before it was moved up to November 8.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 38 critics’ reviews are positive.