Hugh Grant Shines As the ‘Heretic’ Becomes One of the Genre-Bending Horror Movie of the Year 2024
2 min read
Directed by the duo Scott Beck and Bryan Wood, Heretic is a profound horror movie that tells tha tale of two young Mormon missionaries who find themselves spiraled into the psychological game played by Mr.Reed (Huge Grant). The movie encapsulates the sheer horror experience with a powerful narrative about faith, psychology, and true belief.
Heretic goes all in with its details and horror elements as soon as Mr.Reed lures the young girls under pretenses and subjects them to an array of anti-religious rhetoric. Throughout the runtime, Mr.Reed wants to convert the missionaries to his wrong ideology and wants complete dominance over the faith those girls possess.
This horror movie entices you with curiosity at the initial part of the movie and slowly traps you into its world of religious debate, faith, toxic masculinity, maze of unspoken threats. The director successfully engrosses you with the details and slowly creeps you out with the interesting plot and powerful performances.
Hugh Grant Hits Right Note to Play Mr.Reed
The prolific actor Hugh Grant puts the sole into the role of Mr.Reed and delivers a sheer creepy and powerful performance that will stay with you long after the credit rolls. His departure from the charismatic leading role to a more greedy and sinister role makes this movie one of the most thrilling and scary movies of the year.
Mr.Reed is an unpredictable and scary man who is a reclusive and dangerous man who resists flinching and wants to cause terror to other people and find enjoyment in the process. Reed’s character is not just a traditional villain; he embodies a complex antagonist who uses charm and intellect to manipulate those around him. His interesting and nice-guy character masks a darker intent and horror, making him the chilling and compelling character in the movie.
Grant’s ability to evoke sympathy and emotion even while and after doing some hideous and horrific deeds makes Reed the most captivating and manipulative character in the Horror genre.
Huge himself mentioned that this phase of his career was a ‘Freak-show period’ reflecting on the recent roles he took to challenge himself as he grew older. He even talks about the fewer roles he is getting as he is getting older and wants to explore more morally ambiguous or powerful characters that stay with the masses.
