You may be wondering what the deal is with this new A24 horror movie that recently came to theaters on November 8. A24 has consistently delivered some of best indie horror films of the 21st century, and Heretic is no break in that trend. It has a 91% Rotten Tomatoes critics score as of this writing, a high number considering film critics historically hold biases against horror as a genre. This film follows two Mormon missionaries (played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) as they enter the house of Hugh Grant’s Mr. Reed, who won’t let them leave until they complete a series of trials that torture them and challenge their religion. 

The film is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the duo behind several previous horror hits including A Quiet Place (2018), Haunt (2019), and the sci-fi thriller 65 (2023). Hugh Grant gives an incredible, Oscar-buzzy performance, veering away from his usual charming character types to flex his range by dropping into a villain role. Because they know him from his past roles, the audience wants to trust him in the beginning of the film, the same way the missionary girls do, allowing the audience's experience to mirror that of the main characters. As for the other actors, both Chloe East and Sophia Thatcher came from Mormon backgrounda and thus brought personal connections with the religion to their roles. 

The out-of-the-box screenwriting challenges the watcher to think about their own relationship with religion and ponder the legitimacy of religious organizations. If this kind of issue interests you, Heretic is definitely a must-watch, as it hones in on this discussion. Critics of the movie claim that the major focus on this conversation about faith can detract from the horror, though the horror factor definitely amps up in the third act of the film. Another caveat for the film: the audience score is slightly lower than the critic score, suggesting that this might be more for the thoughtful film buff in you rather than the person solely looking for entertainment. All that being said, if you’re looking for a new horror movie to watch, this movie, like most of A24’s discography, will definitely deliver!