Warning: SPOILERS for the ending of Heretic!A24 delivers another tense horror film in Heretica chamber piece that is part theological excavation and part psychological thriller. Written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, whose screenplay A peaceful place spawned a critically acclaimed and highly successful franchise, the film follows two Mormon missionaries trying to end the day with a successful conversation. Their neighborhood campaign leads them to the doorstep of one Mr Reed, played by Hugh Grant, in what is being hailed as a career highlight, but an unfortunate turn of events means they can never leave.
Yellow Jackets star Sophie Thatcher and The Fabelmans actress Chloe East joins Grant as Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, respectively, and their harrowing journey through Mr. Reed’s house is the driving force of the story. Heretic It may start slowly, with the young women trying to attract a newcomer to their religion and instead getting caught up in their speech, but the pace picks up when the guests realize the front door can’t be opened again. Although Barnes is more steadfast in his logic and intellectual in his debate when Mr. Reed begins to bother the girls about their faith, it is Paxton who has to make the final moves on the metaphorical chessboard when Mr. Reed begins to make the final move.
TelaRant interviewed the talented cast of Heretic about their roles in the latest horror classic A24. Grant shared how he got into the mindset of the villainous Mr. Reed, while East and Thatcher each described their reaction to Sister Barnes’ tragic death and its effect on Sister Paxton.
Hugh Grant Worried About His Performance Before Heretic – But He Didn’t Need To
“If I do four or five hours of intense analysis, I feel calmer.”
Screen Rant: Hugh, Mr. Reed is a big mystery. We don’t know anything about him except that he’s bad news. Do you have a story behind it or did you talk about its origins with the directors?
Hugh Grant: Oh, yes. I have a huge story for it and I badgered the directors in the month leading up to filming. I don’t know, the older I get, the more obsessive I become about preparation. I think it helps in terms of performance, but it definitely helps in terms of nervousness. I wake up in a panic thinking, “Oh, God, it’s six weeks away.” And if I do four or five hours of intense analysis, I feel calmer.
Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher Explain How the Heretic’s Big Death Changes the Game
“You think she’s really going to make it because she’s the driving force between them.”
Screen Rant: Speaking of nervousness, Sister Paxton depends on Sister Barnes at all times when it comes to interactions with Mr. Reed, but she has to take up the mantle herself when Barnes is incapacitated. Can you talk about what she’s going through in that moment and how it affects her journey through the rest of the film?
Chloe East: At the moment when she’s alone? This was probably one of the hardest changes I’ve had. I feel like I mapped out most of Paxton and the emotions that she would go through, but then it was a new phase of the film where I have to be different. It has to be different from the rest of the movie we’ve already shot, so it was definitely a struggle.
But I think I just internalized the real exhaustion and mental state I was in at that point because I had nothing left to really recover from. So I started drawing on last week’s work and how I currently felt, and that really added a different layer to it.
Screen Rant: Sophie, I was screaming and crying and vomiting when Sister Barnes didn’t make it. How did you react to this twist and what do you think drove the final blow she delivered to Mr.
Sophie Thatcher: I mean, it’s horrible. You think she’s really going to make it because she’s the driving force between them. She is the one leading the challenge!
I was with my mom and sister at the premiere a few days ago, and they couldn’t watch it the first time we saw it. My boyfriend had a panic attack and had to go to the bathroom – and I’m complaining about it, but it means he loves me. It’s funny to watch this.
Even at the end of the film, when [Mr. Reed] He’s on top of Chloe and we don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m like, “Oh my God, Sister Paxton! What’s going to happen?” And I’m like, “Oh, duh, I’ll be in.” That’s how absorbed I was. I was like, “Something’s going to happen. What’s going to happen? …Oh, wait, I know what happens. I filmed it.” This kind of happens with my death [scene] too, and I think that’s a good thing.
The heretic cast would never have ended up at Mr. Reed’s house
“As a child, I didn’t even knock on my friend’s door to play.”
Screen Rant: The tension only increases as the two of you interact with Mr. How far do you think you would get on the path of education if you were interacting with Mr. Reed? How long before you try to run away?
Chloe East: Like ourselves? I don’t know. Would you have entered the house? I don’t even know if I would have gone.
Sophie Thatcher: I wouldn’t have gotten into that situation.
Chloe East: Growing up, I didn’t even knock on my friend’s door to play.
Sophie Thatcher: I’m a little shy. I grew up Mormon and I’m also from the Midwest, so I feel like there’s that part of me that pleases people. So that was really easy to explore. But, yeah, I wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. It’s bold.
Hugh Grant: I think I would have run. I used to sell fire extinguishers door to door in London. I think if a man like that had come and opened the door and invited me in, I think I would have politely declined.
More about the heretic (2024)
Sister Paxton (Chloe East, TIFF ’22’s The Fabelmans) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher, Yellowjackets) are happily carrying out their mission to spread good news about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Running through a list of doors to knock on, they arrive at the quiet suburban home of Mr. Reed (Grant), who seems not only polite and hospitable, but also genuinely fascinated by the history and teachings of Mormonism.
In fact, Mr. Reed is quite knowledgeable about all of the world’s major religions and is eager to discuss them with women. Maybe too anxious. With the rain falling outside and Mr. Reed’s wife baking pie in the next room, the atmosphere is utterly cozy. The only thing that could ruin everything would be if Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes wanted to leave.
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Source: Rant Plus Screen