Prime Video subscribers better hurry if they want to catch up on a brainy philosophical horror with Hugh Grant in a disturbing role. Heretic, written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, will be removed from the streamer in a matter of days.
The film follows two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), whose door-to-door preaching brings to the home of the eccentric Mr Reed (Grant).
After the girls explain they can only enter a man’s house if a woman is present, Reed assures them that his wife is at home and invites them in for one hell of a theological debate that might just turn deadly.
A24
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The tense denouement of the film will leave you wondering whether something might actually happen and if Reed truly is a threat or just a middle-aged man who appears to enjoy the sound of his own voice.
Whether you’ve never seen Heretic or you’d like to revisit what is possibly Grant’s second most captivating villainous role (there’s no beating Paddington 2’s Phoenix Buchanan), you can do so on Prime Video until 11 May, when it’ll be removed from the streamer.
The horror premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 before having a cinema run in November of the same year. It’s Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive score of 89% from 295 reviews, with unanimous praise for Grant’s performance.
The star’s turn was hailed as “commanding” (via The Australian) and “fun and juicy” (via FilmWeek), with Rolling Stone opining that “creepy, evil Hugh Grant is the best Hugh Grant”.
A24
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HeyUGuys’ glowing review of Heretic has words of praise for the three “mesmerising” central performances, together with the film’s “eerie visuals and carefully crafted dialogue”.
“By casting Grant in this daring role, Beck and Woods bring a fresh voice to modern horror, cementing Heretic as an unforgettable addition to the genre,” they added.
Heretic is streaming for Prime Video until 11 May.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).