The Heretics (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place primarily in two contrasting locations: a remote countryside cabin in a rural area, which serves as the isolated and menacing setting for the cult's ritual, and a local church where Gloria attends therapy sessions, representing her path to recovery and social support.

• cabin
• church
• rural
• setting
• location

The movie is set in the present day, specifically five years after Gloria was originally kidnapped by the cult. This contemporary setting provides a stark contrast between normal modern life and the ancient supernatural forces at work.

• present day
• time period
• five years after

The trauma theme examines how Gloria's kidnapping has shaped her identity years later. The film shows how memory, fear, and guilt influence behavior through her therapy groups, family tensions, and relationships, while also exploring resilience and the possibility of healing.

• trauma
• kidnapping
• recovery
• memory
• therapy

The cult power theme demonstrates how belief systems control followers through secrecy, fear, and ritual symbolism. Joan's leadership embodies this as she masks her cruelty with charisma, using manipulation and violence to maintain authority over her followers.

• cult
• control
• manipulation
• ritual
• leadership

The identity theme explores Gloria's transformation into an inhuman vessel as she grapples with the influence of Abaddon. The narrative questions whether she can retain her humanity while being consumed by external forces and inner voices demanding her compliance.

• identity
• transformation
• possession
• humanity
• Abaddon

Gloria is a traumatized survivor portrayed by Nina Kiri who was kidnapped by a cult five years before the movie. Now in recovery, she attends therapy while her psyche is tested as she begins to metamorphose under demonic influence, teetering between humanity and transformation.

• Gloria
• Nina Kiri
• survivor
• victim
• transform

Joan is the enigmatic cult leader played by Jorja Cadence who orchestrates Gloria's abduction. She masks her cruelty with charisma and uses her authority to control followers, though her position is challenged as truths about her nature are revealed.

• Joan
• Jorja Cadence
• cult leader
• antagonist
• manipulator

Thomas is a scarred former cult member portrayed by Ry Barrett who claims to protect Gloria from remaining cultists. He becomes entangled in the family vendetta surrounding Gloria and ultimately confronts Joan and her sister's escalating violence.

• Thomas
• Ry Barrett
• former cult member
• protector
• vendetta

Abaddon is the demonic-like entity that has been implanted in Gloria, manifesting through visions and her increasingly inhuman appearance. This supernatural force drives the horror of the climax and represents the external evil competing for Gloria's identity.

• Abaddon
• demon
• entity
• possession
• demonic

Ruth is Gloria's mother played by Nina Richmond who witnessed her daughter's abduction years earlier. She becomes a target in Joan's violent pursuit to bury the truth, and her fate marks a turning point in Gloria's struggle and the theme of maternal protection.

• Ruth
• Nina Richmond
• mother
• family
• protection

The cult practices rituals involving demonic entities, specifically targeting individuals like Gloria to serve as vessels for supernatural forces. They operate through secrecy and fear, using ritual symbolism to exert control over members and achieve their spiritual objectives.

• cult
• ritual
• belief
• demonic
• vessel

The locust moon motif signals a looming climax in the narrative, representing the ancient and ominous timing of the cult's ritual. This celestial element connects the supernatural events to a larger cosmic framework beyond the immediate human conflict.

• locust moon
• motif
• symbolism
• timing
• ritual