Yesterday, I got invited to an exclusive premiere screening of Heretic in Delhi, ahead of its India release! A fun experience overall.
I finally got into the theatre after some games and interactions & as the film began, I was hooked right from the opening scene. It kicks off so strongly, pulling you into its world with a mix of intrigue and unease. The setup, with two young Mormon missionaries knocking on the wrong door on a stormy day, immediately sets the stage for something special. For the first half of the film, I was completely engrossed. The tension builds so well, and the dialogue crackles with wit and meaning. Hugh Grant, as Mr. Reed, absolutely nails his role as this charming yet unsettling guy, and the duo of Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East bring just the right mix of innocence and mounting dread to balance him out.
What really stood out to me was the technical brilliance. The sound design and editing work together to keep you on edge without overdoing it, and the cinematography is top-notch. There’s this one particular shot of a character running through a miniature of the house that just blew me away; it’s a small moment, but it says so much about the film’s attention to detail. Those visual choices and the eerie atmosphere really pulls you deeper into the story.
That said, as much as I loved the first half, the second half felt a little off to me. The film starts to juggle too many themes, and the tight focus from the beginning starts to fray. It’s like the film couldn’t decide whether it wanted to stay a psychological thriller or dive fully into horror. By the time we got to the more traditional horror elements, it felt like it was losing some of the uniqueness that made the opening so great. It’s still engaging, but it didn’t quite hit the same heights as the start.
One thing that stays consistently great, though, is the acting. Hugh Grant is phenomenal! He somehow makes Mr. Reed both magnetic and terrifying. Thatcher and East are fantastic too, bringing layers to their characters that make you root for them all the way. Watching their dynamic with Grant unfold was one of the highlights of the film for me, and it’s what kept me invested even when the story started to wobble.
Smash Hit Score: 7.5/10
I’d say Heretic is worth a watch. It’s got some flaws, especially in how it handles the second half, but the performances and technical artistry make up for a lot of that. It’s a film that starts off with so much promise, and while it doesn’t completely stick to the landing, it’s still an experience I’d recommend.
All film shots taken from TheMovieDB.org
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