Heretic

Heretic

Year: 2024

Runtime: 1 h 50 m

Language: english

Directors: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck

Echo Score: 76

Budget: $10M

HorrorThriller

Two young missionaries find themselves in a dangerous situation when they encounter the sinister Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant). He lures them into a perilous game of cat-and-mouse, forcing them to confront the limits of their faith.

Heretic (2024) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Heretic (2024) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a rain‑washed town where everyday conversations drift between the sacred and the profane, two newly assigned missionaries set out to share their message. Sister Barnes carries the quiet weight of a personal loss, while Sister Paxton balances earnest conviction with a lingering curiosity about the world beyond her doctrine. Their partnership is a study in contrast—one grounded in solemn resolve, the other tinged with youthful doubt—yet both are united by a shared determination to bring their faith to the people they encounter.

Their path leads them to the modest home of an enigmatic Englishman, Mr. Reed, whose warm hospitality masks an unsettling undercurrent. The house, scented with fresh‑baked blueberry pie, becomes a sanctuary from the storm outside, but also a claustrophobic stage where conversation shifts from polite small talk to probing examinations of belief. Reed’s scholarly fascination with the very religion the missionaries champion adds a disquieting intellectual tension, turning a simple visit into a subtle contest of ideas.

As the evening deepens, the trio’s interaction takes on the rhythm of a delicate cat‑and‑mouse game. The missionaries, accustomed to spreading hope, find themselves navigating an increasingly ambiguous environment where every question feels like a test and every reassurance hints at something more unsettling. The atmosphere is thick with quiet dread, juxtaposing the earnest optimism of the young women against Reed’s cryptic provocations, and the house itself seems to contract around them, amplifying the sense of being watched.

The film balances psychological suspense with an undercurrent of spiritual inquiry, inviting the audience to wonder how far faith can stretch when confronted with an adversary who blurs the line between philosophy and menace. In this isolated setting, the stakes are less about external danger than about the inner resolve of two women who must decide what they truly believe when belief itself becomes a battlefield.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 19:25

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Stories where characters are trapped and stalked by a cunning antagonist.If the tense, trapped feeling of Heretic captivated you, explore these other movies like it. This collection features similar thrillers and horror stories where characters are confined and forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse game for survival, perfect for fans of high-stakes suspense.

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Narratives where core beliefs are violently tested by manipulation and terror.For viewers who appreciated the theological debate and faith crisis in Heretic, this list spotlights similar movies. Discover other psychological horror and thriller films that delve into themes of religious doubt, manipulation, and the brutal testing of belief systems.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives often pit a believer or idealist against a cunning foe who weaponizes their own beliefs against them. The journey involves psychological torment, deep doubt, and a struggle to maintain one's core identity in the face of horrific evidence or sophisticated arguments designed to break the spirit.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Heretic

Heretic Ending Explained

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