Crisis of Faith: In A24’s ‘Heretic’, Hugh Grant Achieves Peak Villain Mode By Menacing Two Young Missionaries
And you thought Hugh Grant was a bad guy in Paddington 2.
In A24’s upcoming Heretic, Grant moves well beyond his most recent high-profile roles – distracted boyfriends, puffed-up egotistical actors, petulant lords and Oompa Loompas – to play a diabolical would-be killer. Though Grant has made a habit of playing the bad guy recently, this role is his first lead in a horror film since 1988’s The Lair of the White Worm.
Grant plays Mr. Reed, a seemingly charming older man who traps Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes, two young Mormon missionaries played by Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Chloe East (The Fablemans) in his home, after making them believe his wife was there with him. He then bars all the doors and windows, forcing them to play an elaborate escape game that they may or may not survive.
“I won’t keep you if you wish to leave, but I want you to choose which door to go through based on your faith,” Grant says in the trailer, writing “BELIEF” and “DISBELIEF” on two doorways. The doors lead to an intricate labyrinth that the women must traverse if they want to have any hope of survival.
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods co-wrote and co-directed Heretic. The two also co-wrote A Quiet Place in 2018, which was their industry breakthrough. They most recently made 65, the sci-fi action thriller starring Adam Driver.
The cast also includes Elle McKinnon, River Codack, Carolyn Adair, Stephanie Lavigne and Elle Young. Beck and Woods produced the film along with Katie Aquino, Liliane Bedford, Julia Glausi, Kai Raka, Stacey Sher and Jeanette Volturno.
Plan to get stuck in the theater when Heretic is released on November 15th.