A24 has had quite the year in terms of horror films, from the critically acclaimedI Saw the TV Glowto the slasher threequelMaXXXine, and the psychological horrorThe Front Room. Arriving in theaters very soon is the religious-based horror-thrillerHeretic. While many people have expressed shock to seeHugh Grantstep into the shoes of a sadistic psychopath, many are eager to see what he will bring to the table in what might be his darkest role to date. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming thriller before it hits theaters this weekend.
6When Is the Release Date for ‘Heretic’?
Hereticis slated to have a theatrical release on August 03, 2025,giving audiences ample time to mentally prepare for the shock of seeing Grant embrace his darker side. The religious horror film will be sharing its release date with the faith-based holiday comedyThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever, starringJudy GreerandPete Holmes.
Hereticwas initially scheduled to be released one week later on November 15 but was moved up a week, likely to avoid competition with November’s big blockbusters such asGladiator IIandWicked.
The horror film originally had its premiere at the 2024 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8.
After its theatrical run, we will likely get to see the film available on Max sometime in the new year, as Max currently has a deal with A24 to stream the production company’s films.Hereticwill share a release date with
5Watch the Trailer for ‘Heretic’
Theofficial trailer forHereticwas released by A24 on July 30, 2025. Set to “The Air That I Breathe” byThe Hollies, the trailer opens with the two young missionaries struggling to find any interested converts. That all changes when they knock on the door of Mr. Reed, who invites them in claiming that his wife is baking pie. At first, Mr. Reed seems to be a deeply spiritual and level-headed man, but that’s all a facade, especially when one of the missionaries makes a startling discovery.
Asecond (and shorter) trailer forHereticwas released by A24 on September 19. Set to a creepy and slowed-down remix of “The Air That I Breath,” the 60-second teaser shows Grant’s Mr. Reed preparing his home as the two Mormon missionaries nervously walk up to the front door.
Thethird and final trailer forHereticwas released by A24 on October 8. The trailer begins with the two missionaries greeting Mr. Reed, who then proceeds to invite them in. When the two young women become uncomfortable and ask to leave, Mr. Reed tells them that the only way out is through two doors at the back of his house, one marked “belief” and the other “disbelief.”
4Who Stars In ‘Heretic’?
Hugh Grant takes the lead in this suspense-thriller as the antagonist, Mr. Reed. On the surface, he seems well-mannered and polite, but so didAnthony Hopkinswhen he portrayed the infamousHannibal Lecter. As previously mentioned, this is Grant’s first venture into villainy. Previously, he’s been best known as a delightful charmer, with roles like the awkward-yet-loveable Prime Minister inLove, Actually, William Thacker inNotting Hill, and Will Freeman inAbout A Boy. More recently, he’s stepped into more comedic roles, such as Lofty the Oompa Loompa inWonka, and a snarky historian in the Netflix mockumentariesDeath to 2020andDeath to 2021. While he is reprising his character, Daniel Cleaver, in the upcoming 4th installment of theBridget Jonesfranchise,Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boyin 2025, it will be hard to shake the image of his evil persona fromHeretic.
Joining Hugh Grant inHereticareYellowjackets’Sophie Thatcheras Sister Barnes andChloe East(The Fabelmans) as Sister Paxton. In addition toYellowjackets, Thatcher also starred alongsidePedro Pascalin the 2018 sci-fi adventure drama,Prospect, and more recently in the miniseriesThe Book of Boba Fettand theStephen Kinghorror adaptation,The Boogeyman. She most recently appeared inMaXXXine, which is the third installment ofTi West’s trilogy.
Chloe East started her acting career in 2013, with her first role in the drama,Out of Reach. She then went on to appear in a few episodes of the HBO series,True Blood, before becoming more prominent in shows likeKevin (Probably) Saves the WorldandGeneration. Her first venture into the realm of horror movies comes with the horror-comedy,The Wolf of Snow Hollow, as Jenna, the teenage daughter of Officer John Marshall.
Topher Grace(That ’70s Show) andElle Young(Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) appear in minor roles in the film as Elder Kennedy and Prophet.
3What Is ‘Heretic’ About?
Mormon missionaries Sister Paxton (East) and Sister Barnes (Thatcher) are traveling from door to door, trying to recruit new members to their religion. After multiple dismissals and rude responses, they are relieved to knock on a door and meet Mr. Reed (Grant), who is welcoming to them. He invites them inside to chat after assuring them that his wife is home as well, baking a pie in the kitchen. When he excuses himself to check on the pie, Sister Barnes realizes that the smell of the pie is coming from a scented candle, and they are alone in the house with Reed. When they try to escape, he presents them with a choice between two doors, one labeled “Belief,” and the other, “Disbelief.”
In a sordid game of cat and mouse, the two young women will have to put their faith to the test as they make their way through his labyrinth of twisting tunnels, trap doors, and booby traps. It’s clear in the trailer that he is a skilled woodworker, complete with a miniature version of his maze-like house. In a way, the modifications he made to his home are indicative of the infamous serial killer, H. H. Holmes of the late 1800s, who designed a “murder castle” out of a hotel, complete with hidden rooms, dead ends, and torture chambers. InHeretic, Mr. Reed challenges the strength of the two women’s faith in their religion, making them question everything they thought they once knew about God and the Devil.
The official plot had been largely kept under wraps until recently, with the official synopsis from A24 reading:
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
2Who Is Making ‘Heretic’?
Hereticis written and directed byScott BeckandBryan Woods, backed by their own production company, Beck/Woods, A24, Catchlight Studios, and Shiny Penny. A24 will distribute the film. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods met while attending the University of Iowa, where they founded Bluebox Films and created the filmsHer SummerandUniversity Heights.University Heightswon MTVU’s “Best Film on Campus” competition that year, securing a development deal with MTV Films for Beck and Woods. Since then, they have worked together previously as writers on numerous films such asA Quiet Place,The Boogeyman,Haunt, and65, co-directing the latter two films as well.
In addition to writing and directingHeretic, Beck and Woods also co-produced the film, along withStacey Sher(Django Unchained),Jeanette Volturno(The Invisible Man),Julia Glausi(Fail State),Liliane Bedford(A Black Lady Sketch Show),Kai Raka(Desus & Mero), andKatie Aquino. The music design is handled byChris Bacon, who composed the score for65,Wednesday,Men In Black: International, and worked in the music department for films likeI Am LegendandKing Kong.
Chung-Hoon Chung(Oldboy) served as the movie’s cinematographer, along withPhilip Messina(The Hunger Games) as the production designer,Justin Li(Under the Bridge) as the editor, andBetsy Heimann(Pulp Fiction) as the costume designer.
1When and Where Did ‘Heretic’ Film?
Hereticwas primarily filmed in Vancouver, between October 3 and July 07, 2025. The film was granted an interim agreement to allow production to continue during the SAG-AFTRA strike that year.
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
