Heretic

The second movie in my double feature at the Broadway last night was Heretic and to say that I was excited to see it would be an understatement.  It is deeply unsettling but I found it very entertaining (for reasons).  Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who are invited in to give their message to Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant).  They are initially hesitant because the rules stipulate that they cannot be alone with a man without a woman present but they are told by Reed that his wife is there baking a blueberry pie and are reassured when they smell it baking.  They begin a discussion with him but soon become uncomfortable when he mentions some problematic points of doctrine.  When Sister Barnes realizes that the smell of the blueberry pie is coming from a candle, they try to leave only to discover that Reed has locked them inside.  Thus begins a terrifying cat-and-mouse game in which Reed forces them to examine their beliefs.  This is psychological horror at its best and I found Reed's thesis that all religions are just iterations of the same idea to be fascinating (the use of "The Air That I Breathe" by the Hollies and "Creep" by Radiohead to prove his point is brilliant) and his assertion that belief is really a surrender of control is disconcerting (to say the least) because it is so true.  The production design (I loved all of the religious iconography), lighting design, and sound design are all incredibly atmospheric and the cinematography emphasizes the claustrophobia.  Grant is so menacing as Reed because he is playing against type (I am really enjoying his villain era) and delivers the most disturbing monologues with his usual charm and charisma.  Thatcher and East also give outstanding performances because their escalating dread is entirely believable.  Watching this with a crowd in Utah was absolutely wild and I highly recommend it.