If you’ve viewed *Heretic*, there’s a strong possibility that you’ll perceive Hugh Grant in an entirely new light.
This spine-chilling and intellectually stimulating A24 horror feature, co-written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (*A Quiet Place*), entraps its audience in a maze of unvoiced dread, theological discussion, and blueberry pie. At the heart of the narrative lies Grant’s eerily courteous Mr. Reed—one of the most unexpected and unsettling antagonists in contemporary horror filmmaking.
### What unfolds in *Heretic*?
During a tempestuous afternoon, Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are assigned to visit people who had previously shown interest in learning more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their next destination is the residence of Mr. Reed (Grant), who invites them in under the guise that his wife is busy baking in another room.
Initially, Mr. Reed comes across as charming, engaging the missionaries in a philosophical exchange regarding faith and the waning significance of religion in today’s society. However, subtle anomalies—like his conspicuous “hubby” mug while his wife is supposedly absent—suggest something far more malevolent. As the dialogue descends into darker territory, the women recognize they are ensnared in a perilous game. Mr. Reed offers them a choice between two doors: one marked “belief” and the other “disbelief.” But what awaits them beyond those doors?
### The jaw-dropping conclusion of *Heretic*
The film’s climax presents a harrowing blend of intellectual discourse, shocking truths, and savage brutality. At its essence, *Heretic* explores a man exerting total dominance over women, masking his lethal intentions behind complex theological arguments.
After enduring unspeakable psychological and physical anguish, Paxton adopts a new tactic, shifting from courteous submission to direct challenge. She confronts Mr. Reed’s so-called “miracle” and infers there must be another access point to his basement. Her instincts are validated when she stumbles upon a concealed trapdoor.
As she descends into Mr. Reed’s terrifying underworld, Paxton unearths the horrifying reality: a shadowy passage decorated with occult symbols leading to a frigid chamber where multiple women are confined in cages, starved and barely alive. Mr. Reed’s perverse ceremony involves poisoning one captive with pie while presenting a so-called “miracle” to his current victims—a complex ruse intended to reinforce his delusions of omnipotence.
Paxton’s revelation is a vital part of Mr. Reed’s meticulously crafted scheme. He takes pleasure in imparting his ultimate philosophy: that control represents the one true faith. However, Paxton swiftly turns the tables by stabbing him with a hidden letter opener and making a bid for freedom. Disoriented in the convoluted house, she retreats to the basement, only for Mr. Reed to reappear and stab her.
As she succumbs to her wounds, Paxton performs an unexpected act—she prays. In a final, desperate move, Barnes reappears and fatally injures Mr. Reed with a nail-studded plank. Summoning her last reserves of will, Paxton navigates the labyrinthine home using Mr. Reed’s wooden blueprint, locates a small vent, and crawls to safety. Stumbling into the wilderness, she finally breaks free.
### Mr. Reed’s true intention
Throughout the film, Mr. Reed incessantly asks one pivotal question: “What is the one true religion?” He asserts that he has investigated every belief, cult, and doctrine, ultimately arriving at a chilling realization—control is the supreme faith. His house is a meticulously crafted snare, compelling faith-driven women into a psychological and physical trial that dismantles their beliefs while sustaining his own warped sense of authority.
His fixation on control becomes apparent the instant Barnes and Paxton set foot in his home. The locks operate automatically, the lights are on timers, and every exchange adheres to a scripted format. Even his initial inquiry about polygamy hints at his malevolent agenda—his captives are, in a twisted sense, his unwilling “wives,” subjected to his rule.
In the end, Mr. Reed’s motives have nothing to do with faith or spirituality. They are rooted in domination, manipulation, and the aggressive assertion of male authority. Yet, his victims outsmart him, with Barnes making the ultimate sacrifice for Paxton’s survival.
### The significance of the butterfly
In the concluding moments of the film, while Paxton stumbles through the forest, a butterfly alights on her finger before disappearing.
This moment likely represents Barnes, who had previously engaged in a discussion about life after death. Paxton had shared her wish to be reborn as a butterfly, vowing to rest on the fingertips of her loved ones as a signal of her presence. The butterfly’s fleeting appearance implies that Barnes is watching over her friend, offering a final sign of solace.
Alternatively, the butterfly