The movie “Heretic” introduces Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), missionaries dedicated to expanding their church’s following. Sister Paxton seems less experienced than Sister Barnes, who hails from the East Coast and joined through conversion, appearing more worldly-wise to her colleague. Driven by a desire for Sister Paxton to gain her first convert, they decide to visit Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), someone who had previously shown interest in their church and was added to their contact list. A storm rolls in as the missionaries arrive, but since they can’t enter Mr. Reed's home without a woman present, they are told his wife is baking in the kitchen and they accept his invitation to wait out the weather inside. The girls find Mr. Reed pleasant and remarkably knowledgeable about religious studies—he claims to have been studying them for over ten years, which impresses them greatly. However, his questions, responses, and overall demeanor begin to feel unsettling, as does the absence of his wife, who he says is simply in another room. As they look for an opportunity to depart, they realize they’ve been locked in and that the house blocks cell signals with a metal layer. Things become even more complicated because Mr. Reed insists they are free to leave while simultaneously challenging them with theological questions, theories, and debates at every turn. The ensuing events create a disturbing test of faith for the women, unfolding within a suspenseful film that maintains an air of mystery throughout. The acting is strong, and Grant delivers a noteworthy performance by defying expectations. This isn’t a typical slasher movie; instead, it's a psychological exploration of terror and manipulation, as Mr. Reed genuinely believes he’s helping the women uncover truth amidst religious doctrine. I felt that the final portion leaned too heavily into Hollywood conventions, with certain reveals and conclusions diverging from the clever foundation established earlier. Nevertheless, most of the film was unsettling, absorbing, and compelling thanks to the powerful performances. Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who also wrote “Heretic,” have experience in horror and suspense, and they’ve created a tense thriller. It earns 4 stars out of 5.

Source on TMDB