Heretic was a very interesting film at first glance. I was impressed by the cast when it was first announced and was looking forward to it at TIFF. We had a small introduction from the filmmakers, and we were off with this thriller.

Check out the official synopsis for Heretic below:

When two Mormon missionaries attempt to convert a man, it turns out to be far more dangerous than they could have anticipated

I found so much in Heretic that I really enjoyed, starting off with the cinematography. There are so many interesting color schemes that are weaved throughout the runtime. The blue colors and candlelit inner workings of the house elevate the tension. A lot of what makes this film work is the unknown which is always kept at arm’s length from you. Once it begins to creep out of the shadows is when this movie really starts going. Hugh Grant as the mysterious host works so effectively; there’s something about his charming demeanor which quickly turns sinister that keeps you engaged.

Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East both are able to keep up with Grant’s sharp dialogue. The back-and-forth conversations at the beginning of the film are enough to keep your interest peaked. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have crafted an interesting premise with Heretic. It however starts to get repetitive and tired by the second half. A lot of the points and observations felt superficial and not as profound. This may be because once you hear it so many times, it loses its weight and seems flimsy.

The production design really does a lot of heavy lifting here as well with the house being its own character. There are so many details and intricate designs that leave you guessing what else is hidden. In Heretic you don’t need more locations as the house in itself feels like an alternate reality almost like a hell of its own. You want to look through each hallway and room to see what you can find, and hopefully it’s an exit. Heretic has a point where it even asks you if things might be more fantastical than you could have guessed. The element here worked very effectively for me but ultimately gets drowned by the wordy script. We quickly abandon this and head back to more conversations that at this point feel tired. I wonder if there was an element to the film where these more outrageous moments were fleshed out. The film relies on the performance from Grant, East, and Thatcher to move forward and luckily, the actors are brilliant.

Overall, Heretic really shines in its actors’ performances and the incredible production design. A brilliant script and concept at the beginning gets you intrigued but it quickly loses steam. Grant’s character seems like a broken record and sadly in its final moments becomes dull. A lot of interesting ideas being thrown in its latter half, however, kind of save it so you’re able to finish. The strong acting chops from the actors and their delivery is another saving grace. It’s not horrible by any means necessary but just kind of falls flat in its own story.

We give Heretic a 3.75/5.