NEW YORK (OSV News) — In recent years, auteur Jordan Peele has used the horror genre to explore race relations as well as other weighty subjects. In a similar way, co-writers and directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ chiller “Heretic” (A24) probes the nature of faith.
In keeping with that subtext, the collaborators’ script for this unusually intelligent hair-raiser initially favors the flow of dialogue over the spilling of blood. Yet, as the proceedings reach a climax, nasty mayhem does come to the fore.
Taken together with a treatment of religion that requires well-catechized discernment, this third-act savagery restricts the film’s appropriate audience to those grown-ups willing to tackle harsh visuals. They’ll be rewarded by an edgy set-up as well as an intellectually trenchant screenplay.
Opening scenes introduce us to sympathetic Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East). While the former is shown to be more resolute in her beliefs, she also mentions some behavior that’s not exactly in keeping with LDS teaching.
Both proselytizers have their adherence to the faith tested in an extreme way after they visit the remote home of British-bred recluse Mr. Reed (a convincingly twitchy Hugh Grant). Although he’s requested information about the church, it turns out that their host already has a very decided view of religion and is determined to make his point about it in an unnerving manner.
As the duo struggles to escape the trap into which they’ve been ensnared, they rise to the intellectual challenges with which Mr. Reed confronts them with varying degrees of success. While Sister Barnes leads the way in courageous witness, her companion turns out to have powers of observation of which Sherlock Holmes himself might not be ashamed.
Beck and Woods certainly take faith seriously. But, as typified in a concluding event that may – or may not – involve a supernatural sign, they ultimately take an equivocal stance toward the topic. Accordingly, mature moviegoers will need to sift through the theological material the partners showcase with care.
The film contains relatively brief but intense gory violence, disturbing images, an ambiguous approach to faith, mature references, including to contraception and masturbation, a couple of mild oaths and at least one crass expression. The OSV News classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.