HERETIC

2 Mormon missionaries, Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) visit the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) in order to convert him to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He invites them into his home in order to engage in a theological discussion although the 2 missionaries soon begin to fear for their safety and attempt to leave. Upon their attempt, they realize the only way out is through and must indulge Mr. Reed in his game with the 2 women. The main reason I'm sure many people, including myself, saw this was for Grant's villainous turn as the intellectual and spiritually curious Mr. Reed. It's always great to see typecast characters break the mold and branch out into something they're not known for and Grant excels here in perhaps his finest role ever. He's direct, smart, and astute making both the women and audience uncomfortable at all times. And while there is a lot of dialogue going back-and-forth between Grant and the women, it's intoxicating and never dull (save for the second act which considerably slowed the pacing of the film down unfortunately). In addition, East and Thatcher are wonderful as the missionaries, 2 women who soon get in over their heads and are desperately attempting to escape with their lives. They're innocent, crafty, and smart but also don't just roll over when Mr. Reed's game unfolds but rather push back. The film doesn't so much poke fun at religion, which is a refreshing change, but rather questions it. At times it does inspire thought provoking questions to the audience or at least provide enough intrigue to research some of these topics in greater detail. The film and script are meticulous. Every line, every movement, every set piece has a purpose to it. Nothing is wasted here. A deliciously entertaining game of cat-and-mouse! 7/10