As per usual for a horror movie, especially one that doesn’t exactly qualify as mainstream fare,Heretichas opened to worryingly unenthusiastic audience response. Written and directed byScott BeckandBryan Woods— the writer duo who came up with the original screenplay forJohn Krasinski’s firstA Quiet Placefilm —HereticfeaturesHugh Grantas a mysterious man who is paid a visit by two young Mormon missionaries looking to convert him. In recent years, Grant has been having a grand old time playing against type, gradually distancing himself from the romantic hero image that he cultivated all those years ago.
Hereticopened to excellent reviews, but audiences appeared to be mixed. The film hasearned a low C+ grade onCinemaScore— a platform that polls viewers to grade films on the basis of how likely they are to recommend them to others. Horror titles typically receive lower grades, regardless of how warmly reviewed they’ve been by critics.Heretic’s C+ CinemaScore puts it on par with fellow horror titles such asBarbarian,Trap, andImaginary, but above films such asImmaculate,Malignant, andKnock at the Cabin, each of which earned a C grade. The worst-reviewed horror movie in the post-pandemic era isThe Exorcism, starringRussell Crowe, which earned a dreadful D CinemaScore.
Reviews forHeretic, which is being distributed domestically by the hip indie outfit A24, have been highly positive. The film holds a “fresh” 93% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes.In his review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimenoted that Beck and Woods focus on the religious themes of the story instead of leaning into the horror. He faulted the third act, but praised the cinematography ofPark Chan-wook’s regular collaboratorChung Chung-hoon. He describedHereticas “a clever twist on the religious horror genre, bolstered by three strong performances, particularly Grant’s gregarious yet haunting Mr. Reed.”
Could ‘Heretic’ Become A24’s Next Big Horror Hit?
Beck and Woods last directed the science-fiction film65, starringAdam Driver. The film opened to mixed reviews and under-performed at the box office.Heretic, on the other hand, grossed a little over $1 million in Thursday previews, and is expected to generate over $10 million across its opening weekend. Also starringSophie ThatcherandChloe East,Hereticis playing in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
