SSP Thinks Film

What a tense, twisted treat HERETIC is. Mormon missionaries Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Paxton (Chloe East) are invited into the home of the affable Mr Reed (Hugh Grant) for a friendly theological discussion and get much more than they bargained for. Heretic certainly keeps you guessing, and only really wobbles in its very final stretch, which is still fun just increasingly credulity-pushing. Hugh Grant really is going through a renaissance since he aged out of his endearingly awkward romantic leads; every role he now takes on placing him further outside his comfort zone with wonderful, often chilling results. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East give as good as they get as well, the power balance between Reed and the missionaries fascinatingly shifting in the film’s second half. Heretic will have you on the edge of your seat, it’ll illicit uncomfortable laughter and it may well make you think about interrogating your own faith as well. SSP