A24 returns to the realm of religious horror with Hereticwhich opens in theaters this week after a successful debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (who wrote the first A peaceful place film together), Heretic follows two young Mormon women who enter the home of an older gentleman known as Mr. Reed in the process of trying to convert individuals who question their faith. The film slowly evolves from a theistic conversation into a suspenseful horror story as the girls find themselves trapped at home and forced to play a game that pits their beliefs against their survival.
Heretic received positive reviews, both thanks to the unusual approach to a genre film and the talented trio of actors at the center of the film. Sofia Thatcher (Yellow Jackets) and Chloe East (The Fables) play Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, each with a very different and personal relationship to Mormonism, while Hugh Grant steps out of his comfort zone to play the menacing Mr. Reed, whose veneer of religious curiosity masks a much deeper motivation. sinister.
TelaRant interviewed Beck and Woods about their work on Heretic and the deep conversations that go into the writing process. The pair discussed the challenges that came with having Hugh Grant’s villainous Mr. Reed still make excellent points, how they approached the Barnes and Paxton sisters’ faith, and what’s next on their agenda.
Hugh Grant may be the heretic’s villain, but audiences don’t always disagree with him
“We may not have brought this speech to light, but Mr. Reed is finally doing it for all of us.”
Screen Rant: In my screening, there was at least one instance where the audience applauded something Mr. Reed said, which was fascinating to me. How do you go down the path of putting potentially lucid talking points into a horrible spokesperson?
Scott Beck: This film was specifically designed to bring to light all aspects of religion and belief. We always say it’s about saying the calm parts out loud. We want to be able to get past Mr. Reed, someone who is ostensibly the villainous character of the film, but he makes some very compelling points because he’s addressing a subject that I think we’ve all had some deep thoughts about. And we may not have brought this speech to light, but Mr. Reed is finally doing it for all of us.
Screen Rant: Brian, how much of Mr. Reed’s house did you map out as you were writing and how much was invented on the spot or with set designers?
Bryan Woods: Yes, that’s a great question. When we write, we are very visual. We map and make drawings with each other. Sometimes we’ll have very similar ideas, but sometimes I think the door is on the right, and he thinks it’s on the left, and we have to get on the same page.
But the reality is that we had an incredible production designer on this film, Phil Messina, who did all of the Hunger Games and Darren Aronofsky’s Mom!, and he brought so many compelling ideas to this house to make it atmospheric and terrifying.
The film is a chamber piece. There are three characters talking, but we wanted to surround the scene with other characters — a collection, so to speak, of sinister rainwater crossing the ceiling, the outline of a figure on the girls’ backs — and do everything we can to make the space It feels claustrophobic and scary.
Differentiating Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher’s approaches to Mormon-to-heretic conversion
“We wish the evening’s events had gone a little differently.”
Screen Rant: Scott, Sister Barnes mentions that she had already converted some people, which I found interesting as we see how eager Sister Paxton is, while Barnes is more reticent at first. Can you talk about what you think her process is like in a normal situation?
Scott Beck: Oh, in a normal situation? I think each of these sisters has their own set of skills. I think Sister Barnes is someone who approaches with a lot of intellect and also with a lot of conviction that I think she can pack that intellect.
As for Paxton, we love that dichotomy where she’s a little more anxious. She is cheerful. She could be thinking about these ideas and otherwise they wouldn’t be able to communicate their beliefs so clearly. Whereas, Sister Barnes, we love how restrained she is; how specifically she really aims. And we wish the night’s events had turned out a little differently.
Screen Rant: One thing I hadn’t thought deeply about was The Landlord’s Game, so thanks for bringing that to my attention. Was there some part of you that did this on purpose, as justice to the original creator?
Bryan Woods: I think in writing this movie and talking about these kinds of cerebral, abstract, complex religious ideas, the first goal was to try to make it palatable for some idiots like Scott and me to understand. Then, [we were] using fast food and Monopoly as metaphors for challenging topics.
But the discovery, as we were researching this movie about Monopoly and the story of Elizabeth Magie, seemed like a clear, clean metaphor for the history of religion and the idea of iteration. Because there are old, old ideas that people can ignore and maybe even take credit for. Yes, it was a joy to tell that strange story about Monopoly.
Screen Rant: Finally, what do you two plan to get on the same page about next?
Scott Beck: There are five different ideas that we’re moving forward with right now, ranging from a giant sci-fi movie – which is, to us, the best concept we’ve ever dreamed up – to something that’s a spiritual sequel. for Heretic, where perhaps it takes a topic that isn’t always discussed in genre in the same way that we do in Heretic and expanding on that.
Bryan Woods: We are together [in that]. It’s a question of which one we do next. It’s tough. It’s a difficult choice.
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 is if Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes wanted to leave.
Check out our others Heretic interviews here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus