WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
Hugh Grant trades rom-com stammers for theological torture in a movie that will make you think twice about answering the door for strangers.
90%
90%View →Heretic is a 'thinker’s horror' that works because it respects the intelligence of both its characters and its audience. It’s not a jump-scare fest; it’s a slow-burn interrogation of why we believe what we believe.
Hugh Grant is the main draw here, and he delivers. If you’re looking for a movie that sparks a two-hour debate afterward, this is a winner. Just don't let the kids anywhere near it unless you want to explain the darker side of religious history before bed.
This is strictly for the 15+ crowd. Younger kids will be bored by the long philosophical monologues and then terrified by the eventual violence.
It's a psychological horror film centered on a man systematically trying to dismantle the faith and sanity of two young women. While the missionaries show resilience, the overall vibe is one of dread and manipulation.
This isn't your standard masked-killer flick. It uses theological debate and comparative religion as the foundation for a high-stakes escape room. Hugh Grant’s villainous turn is a masterclass in subverting his 'charming Brit' persona.
It's a horror movie with 'deadly' in the synopsis. You can expect psychological torture, blood, and intense themes about death and the afterlife. It’s rated for older teens for a reason.
Rarely does a horror movie actually make you think about church history and the human condition. It’s a deep dive into existentialism and the mechanics of belief, making it a great 'talker' for mature audiences.
If you grew up watching Hugh Grant as the bumbling, charming romantic lead, prepare to be deeply unsettled. In Heretic, he uses that same stuttering charisma to lure two young missionaries into a theological death trap. It is a brilliant bit of casting because we are culturally programmed to trust him. When he offers the girls tea and starts discussing the history of board games or the origins of religious stories, you want to listen. By the time the door locks, the realization that his politeness is a weapon makes the tension feel suffocating.
Most horror movies rely on a masked killer jumping out of a closet. Heretic relies on a man in a cardigan explaining why your worldview is a copy of a copy. It is a chamber piece thriller, which means almost everything happens inside one house. The dread comes from the conversation rather than a high body count.
The writers behind A Quiet Place are at the helm here, but do not expect the same silent, creature-based tension. This film is loud with ideas. It is a talky, dense movie that treats its audience like they have been paying attention in history class. Critics gave it high marks—landing a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes—because it is rare to see a horror movie that cares this much about the internal logic of its villain. Mr. Reed isn't just a monster; he is a man who has done his homework, and that makes him much more dangerous.
This is a quintessential bridge movie for older teens. If your kid liked the survival mechanics of A Quiet Place but is ready for something more intellectual, this is the move. It is essentially a 100-minute debate where the stakes eventually become physical. Unlike a lot of recent horror that leans into ghosts or demons, this stays grounded in what humans are capable of doing to one another when they are convinced they are the smartest person in the room.
We see a lot of families wondering how to handle the shift to R-rated movies, and Heretic is a perfect test case. It isn't "fun" in the way a popcorn slasher is. It is uncomfortable. It asks big, nasty questions about faith that might stick in a younger child's head for the wrong reasons. But for a 16-year-old who thinks they have seen every trope in the book, it is a masterclass in how to build dread through dialogue.
Keep an eye on the house itself. The production design is a character in its own right, full of shifting floors and metaphorical puzzles that reflect the "deadly game" Mr. Reed is playing. It turns the act of walking through a door into a high-stakes decision. If you are watching this with a teen, the best way to engage is to talk about the "logic" of the trap. Mr. Reed wants his guests to choose their own path, but he has rigged the map. It is a cynical, clever look at how people use information to control others, which is a conversation worth having long after the credits roll.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
