From the Horror-driven duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods comes a psychological horror film called Heretic. The dark and twisted thriller starring Hugh Grant has been met with critical praise at multiple festivals, including the 2024 AFI Film Festival, where we caught the film. Is the latest from A24 worthy of checking out on the big screen? I share my thoughts on the film and let you know.

Heretic follows two young missionaries who arrive at Mr. Reed’s house and become trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse. If they want to make it out alive, they must turn to their faith. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East star alongside Grant.

Sister Barnes and Paxton are out on their daily mission of knocking on people’s doors, attempting to convert people into Mormons. As they go door to door, they arrive at Mr. Reed’s (Grant) house, where he invites them into his home. Cautiously optimistic about what’s in store, the sisters head into the house.

Beck and Woods’s setup for this film couldn’t have gone any better. You reel audiences into this claustrophobic house, where you know bad things are bound to happen. Their introduction to Mr. Reed is perfect as each move he makes in the film’s early stages is calculated. You know the girls are there to sell him, but he quickly turns the tables on them.

I can’t rave enough about how Hugh Grant fully committed to this part. Mr. Reed is a dark, creepy, and manipulative man, and Grant perfectly embodies that. There is a scene where Mr. Reed explains the “iterations” of religion, and this scene is by far one of my favorites of 2024. This performance is a reminder that Horror movies can have great performances within them. Opposite of Grant were Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, who played Sister Barnes and Paxton. I quite enjoyed the combination, and they played well off of Grant.

My biggest issue with this movie is the third act. You have me on the edge of my seat, buying everything being sold, and Beck and Woods lose track of what got them here. Far too many films this year have built such strong first and second acts only to let you down with questionable decisions that leave you scratching your head. It’s incredibly frustrating because I wanted to love this.

Ultimately, Heretic is a good psychological thriller that falls short of being great. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods might’ve lost their way toward the movie’s end, but I loved the psychological elements and the idea of exploring faith the way they did. If anything, come for Hugh Grant’s monumental performance in a way you’ve never seen him before. I highly recommend checking this out on the big screen and knowing as little as possible about it.

Heretic hits theaters on November 8.