Heretic

First Reaction

Heretic was a tense-filled ride that keeps you questioning not only what is happening in the film, but your own religious views. With each new scene, it forces you to pay attention to the smallest details in both the frame and the dialogue. The moment something subtle is revealed that you missed, you mentally slap your forehead and think, “Why did I miss that?” It distracts you just enough to make you overlook what truly matters. These are the types of films that are fun to experience and even more fun to discuss.

Review

When I first saw this movie, it was already on the Walmart shelves and streaming on Amazon Prime. Somehow it slipped under my radar. I hadn’t even seen a trailer. All I knew was what the cover showed — Hugh Grant looking like a towering, powerful force. Even then, I didn’t watch it. That is until now. I know, I’m late to it. That’s life when you’re an adult with responsibilities. You can’t just binge movies all day. I mean, you could. I’d just rather not. Not exactly what you expect from a wannabe critic, right?

When I finally sat down to watch it, I had some free time and was scrolling through Prime. It popped up and I said to myself, “Now is as good a time as any.” So I hit play.

Right off the bat, the cinematography pulled me in. The opening shot of Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) sitting on a bench discussing condoms and the idea that if you’re raised to believe something your entire life, you wouldn’t know any different — that’s the backbone of the entire film. Two religious teens having an awkward conversation about sexual topics in front of a beautiful mountain view with cool tones. I knew visually I was going to enjoy this film. Story-wise, too.

The religious twist and character dynamics are what make this movie work. The “game” Mr. Reed plays challenges not only Barnes and Paxton but forces them to examine how strong their faith truly is. Mr. Reed has built a board game of choice inside his home. When he asks them to step in to get out of the rain, he is asking them to come in and play. Once they step into the house, the colors shift to warmer but darker tones — almost saying welcome to the game, it’s safe and cozy. But the darkness underneath tells you it isn’t safe.

Mr. Reed is quick to let the ladies know the rules in offhanded comments that fly under the radar of the sisters and the viewers. This game is orchestrated by Reed. It is designed to mislead the two sisters and give them the false perception of freedom of choice. This is one of the things I believe hurts Mr. Reed’s argument throughout the film. It shows me that he misunderstands what religion truly is. It’s not a choice that is forced — it’s one we make as individuals freely. He presents it as you only believe because you are told to. That may be true in some cases, but not always, and the differences between Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton prove that.

Interestingly, I assumed Paxton would hold firmest to her faith. Instead, it’s Sister Barnes. I’m glad they chose that direction. Barnes has experienced life outside the church, which makes her faith a conscious choice. Paxton, being born and raised in it, struggles more when confronted with fear and doubt. Her instincts lean toward survival rather than conviction.

Through camera angles that lower slightly and tilt upward toward Mr. Reed, he feels like the man with all the answers. He believes his answers are truth because he found them himself. Compared to his lost and uninformed guests.

Mr. Reed is a man obsessed with finding a definitive answer about truth. That obsession has consumed him. His fear and instability are used carefully — not exaggerated, but present when needed. The madness shows through his eyes. The camera draws attention to his expressions, showing that his thoughts are constantly firing. And through it all, he doesn’t even seem fully sure he believes what he’s selling. This isn’t a film meant to terrify nonstop. It’s meant to disturb your thoughts.

Reed believes he has found the one true religion. I won’t spoil what that means. But every argument presented has cracks in it. That’s the point. Whether it’s religion, science, or history, certainty is fragile. At some point, belief requires trust.

There’s a moment where Reed’s hardened exterior slips. It’s during the prayer scene when he’s injured and asks Paxton to pray for him. For a brief moment, he feels human. The camera shifts slightly — he is no longer towering over the frame. He drops lower, closer to eye level. It visually shows weakness. Fear.

He asks for prayer almost like a challenge, but there’s something else in it. For a split second, it feels genuine. Like he wants comfort. Like he’s scared.

Paxton responds by mentioning a study that showed prayer doesn’t produce measurable miracles — that the comfort comes from knowing someone cares enough to pray for you. And that’s the point. Prayer isn’t magic. It isn’t a guaranteed intervention. It’s connection. It’s trust. It’s saying, “I care about you.” And that in itself is healing.

Reed quickly snaps back into his need to win. But that small crack is there. He was searching for truth once. Now he just doesn’t want to be wrong. He’s dug himself so deep that being wrong would destroy him. At that point, it isn’t about truth anymore. It’s about dominance.

Characters & Performances

The cast clearly understood the tone of this film. Everyone played their roles in a believable way. Even though Mr. Reed is technically the villain, you can’t help but respect the intelligence he brings to the conversation.

The same goes for Barnes and Paxton. Their courage feels earned. Their faith doesn’t feel naive — it feels tested.

Sister Paxton (Chloe East) was my favorite. She brought such innocence and sincerity to the role. It never felt forced. She earns my MIA (Most Impressive Actor) award for this one.

Interesting fact: Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher were both raised Mormon, which likely helped them embody these roles naturally.

Behind the Camera

The camera work never distracted me. Every shot felt intentional. Framing was clean. Movement was smooth. Either the cinematography was that controlled, or the story had me completely locked in.

And I believe it was both.

The camera uses slow, subtle zooms during key moments to keep us focused exactly where we need to be. But at the same time, those movements quietly distract us from other details happening in the scene. That’s part of why this film rewards a second watch. There are probably things we missed the first time because the camera guided our attention so precisely.

There are also tight, intimate shots throughout the film — especially on Sister Paxton, Sister Barnes, and Mr. Reed. Those close-ups are important. They show us that these characters are thinking. You can see doubt, fear, calculation, and hesitation on their faces. The camera doesn’t just record dialogue — it captures the mental battle happening behind their eyes.

When Paxton and Barnes challenge each other or respond to Reed’s arguments, you can see them processing information in real time. The framing helps drive that tension. It makes us feel what they’re feeling. It puts us inside their heads.

The color palette plays a major role as well. As the film grows darker emotionally, the tones shift with it. When we feel trapped or manipulated, darker and warmer tones close in around the characters. When fear sets in, cooler tones create isolation and vulnerability.

Then there are moments where sunlight cuts through, especially near the end. That shift in brightness feels intentional. The lighting mirrors the psychological state of the characters.

Nothing feels random. The camera, framing, and color all support the story instead of overpowering it.

“OH SH*T” Moments

The moment Sister Barnes dies. I did not expect that. It was sudden and brutal. I genuinely said, “What the fuck just happened?” It hit hard. I didn’t want to see her go.

Themes & Meaning

At its core, this film is about belief. If you spend your entire life jumping between ideas without committing to anything, you’ll never find peace. That doesn’t mean blind faith. It means choosing what resonates with you and standing by it while still being willing to question and learn.

Nothing is flawless — not religion, not science, not history. As humanity moves forward, what we once believed often changes. Life is short. Find what brings you peace and meaning, and hold onto it.