_{By: Amanda Guarragi}

When A24 has a new horror film lined up, there are usually high expectations. Not all of them have been as well received as Hereditary, Midsommar and Pearl, but the intrigue of a new arthouse horror is there for audiences. 

For the horror genre, the more films you watch, the more the conventions feel stale unless there’s a strong story. Religious horror is a subgenre that often falls flat because of the simplicity of good versus evil. There is demonic possession that can be factored in or the antichrist that is usually presented; take Immaculate and The First Omen, released earlier this year. 

In Heretic, co-writers and directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods present a uniquely intellectual cat-and-mouse game for the subgenre. On a cold afternoon, two young religious girls, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), want to spread the good word of the Lord going door to door. They stumble upon Mr. Reed’s (Hugh Grant) home and are invited in. 

Woods and Beck craft a strong first half, sharply questioning all religions. Mr. Reed challenges the young girls and slowly turns their conversation into a game. The girls get lost in the dialogue until Mr. Reed leaves the room, Sister Barnes notices small, unsettling things about the home and Mr. Reed and suggests they leave. 

The anticipation of Mr. Reed’s next move makes the film engaging, and the score matches the tone. When Sister Barnes and Paxton can’t find their way out, the game continues in Mr. Reed’s office. Hugh Grant gave one of his best performances as his constant badgering and arrogance of religious subjects became sinister. The conversation leads both girls to the ultimate test of faith. 

The screenplay is intricate and meticulously explores having blind faith. Mr. Reed positions Sister Barnes and Paxton to face a prophet to see if they truly believe in a higher power. The power of their belief is brutally tested until they find a way out. 

Woods and Beck do add comedic moments to offset the looming dread. Chloe East shines as a naive, fast-talking wreck, while Sophie Thatcher complements East by being grounded, insightful and observant. Both had good chemistry until the third act. 

While watching Heretic, it felt unfortunate to witness a poorly scripted ending that got lost in the structure of the “cat-and-mouse” game. The dialogue was much richer in the first half, only to be taken literally as a puzzle the girls must escape from. 

There was a disconnect between Mr. Reed’s overall plan and how the girls fit into his equation. Sadly, it fell into generic territory with a weak payoff. It became predictable, and what made the film so intriguing got lost in providing the audience with cheap scares.