THE FILM
In Heretic, Hugh Grant delivers a masterclass in subtle menace. It’s a film that finds dark humor in the tension between civility and manipulation, capturing the uncanny way in which a seemingly pleasant demeanor can cloak a storm of sinister motives. As Mr. Reed (Grant), a man who welcomes two young, wide-eyed missionaries into his home, Grant imbues his character with the type of quiet unease that only a master of the art can pull off. He’s the charming villain, the everyman with just enough humanity to make his dark turn all the more unsettling. The premise is simple but brimming with satirical potential: two young girls, armed with nothing but their faith and a well-worn pitch, come knocking at Mr. Reed’s door, eager to spread the gospel. What unfolds is less a battle of wits than an exploration of power dynamics, control, Jar-Jar Binks, and the darkness lurking behind the sanctity of religion.
The film’s sharp humor lands with eerie precision, bringing to the forefront the uncomfortable truth that, behind the righteous smile, many of us share the same doubts and frustrations. Heretic doesn’t just ask the questions most of us dare not voice; it mocks, probes, and dissects them with a knowing, almost gleeful malice. What makes it all the more captivating is how it plays with dread. The slow-burn tension keeps the audience on edge, constantly wondering when and how the facade will crack, specifically a moment that involves the smell of Blueberry pie or lack thereof. However, where the film stumbles, inevitably, is in its conclusion. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that the payoff is a bit too blunt for its own good; an ending that veers dangerously close to on-the-nose. The cheese factor is high with the silly humor and diatribes that are spoken, though it doesn’t detract too much from the enjoyment of the journey. The final moments may be wrapped in a bow too neat for comfort, but the film’s cleverness up until that point makes it worthwhile.
Ultimately, Heretic succeeds because it’s a playful yet unsettling exploration of faith, power, and control. It’s a reminder of religion. however it’s packaged and often operates as a means to an end, and that end is power. And Hugh Grant? He’s at his finest here, a gleaming, insidious presence who elevates the film from dark comedy to something more thought-provoking. In short, Heretic is a film that leaves you both laughing and uncomfortable, a clever meditation on the ways we manipulate and are manipulated. Religion, as the film so expertly showcases, is indeed a vehicle for control; but it’s also a great vehicle for Hugh Grant’s most deliciously devious performance in years.
BUT THE HERETIC 4K BLU-RAY HERE
THE VIDEO
When it comes to cinematic experiences that linger on the precipice of the macabre and the absurd, Heretic excels—not just in its darkly comic exploration of faith and power but also in the visual textures it offers. A24’s 4K UHD release of the film, encoded in HEVC/H.265 at 2160p in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, elevates what was already an engaging, if somewhat unsettling, viewing experience into something sensory and immersive. The first thing that stands out is the clarity in the extreme close-ups, where the texture of skin, fabric, and even the subtle play of light and shadow on faces become sharply discernible. The increasing proximity to Hugh Grant’s unnervingly pleasant visage is more unsettling when every pore and shadow is rendered in such minute detail. But it’s not just about detail; it’s HDR and Dolby Vision that really transform the experience. Heretic, with its mix of suburban eeriness and creeping dread, thrives in the elevated tonal shifts afforded by the expanded color palette. From the very first outdoor scenes, there’s an immediately noticeable shift in the temperature of the image; those early outdoor shots take on a subtle, almost unnaturally greenish hue, which imparts a sense of freshness tinged with unease. It’s as if nature itself is quietly complicit in the creeping chaos unfolding within Reed’s home. Inside the house, A24’s 4K treatment reveals an almost peachy warmth that wasn’t quite as perceptible in the standard 1080 release. The warm, rosy glow of the interiors, bathed in soft artificial light, imbues the space with a touch of eeriness that heightens the uncomfortable juxtaposition of Mr. Reed’s suburban normalcy with the creeping sense of menace just beneath the surface. It’s in these moments that the new 4K presentation comes into its own, allowing the viewer to fully appreciate the craft of both cinematography and post-production color grading.
As the film descends into its darker, more claustrophobic final act; particularly in the dimly lit, suffocating cellar scenes; HDR plays a pivotal role in preserving shadow detail and preventing the film from losing its visual nuance. What was once an indistinct mass of dark corners and murky light is now a world of shadows with subtle distinctions, aided by a slightly cobalt blue hue that evokes the creeping dread at the heart of the narrative. It’s a quiet, pervasive tension, and the HDR enhancement helps it breathe in ways the standard 1080p release simply couldn’t. Perhaps the most minor but noticeable technical feature is the digital grain, which, in the 4K version, becomes less subliminal. While it’s never distracting, the increased resolution subtly shifts the texture of the film, giving it a more tactile, filmic quality that lends a sense of realism to the increasingly nightmarish proceedings. The grain, often a sign of artistic choice, now takes on a more pronounced presence in the image, adding an organic roughness that suits the film’s unsettling tone. Ultimately, A24’s 4K UHD release of Heretic is a case study in how a well-executed transfer can elevate a film’s emotional and thematic impact. The technical upgrades, especially in HDR, bring new life to the visual storytelling, making the atmosphere even more immersive, while the increased resolution subtly enhances the viewer’s connection to the creeping dread that permeates the narrative. While the conclusion of the film may fall into somewhat predictable, if not overly cheesy, territory, the journey, visually and thematically, remains a harrowing, at times beautiful, experience. For those who loved the film upon its initial release, this 4K UHD version is more than a mere technical upgrade. It’s an opportunity to revisit Heretic with fresh eyes, to see and feel its nightmare in ways the 1080p release could not quite deliver.
THE AUDIO
Heretic’sDolby Atmos sound design is a joyous wonder in creating atmosphere through subtlety. Much like the film itself, which thrives on restraint rather than bombast, the soundtrack in this release unfolds with a quiet, creeping precision that lingers long after the film ends. The environments in Heretic are often confined; an isolated suburban home, a few well-lit rooms, and a suffocating cellar. These may not be the grand, open spaces that usually lend themselves to immersive “wow” moments in sound design. And yet, this restrained spatiality is what makes the Dolby Atmos track so effective. It’s not about overwhelming the listener with booming effects or intense surround sound panning, but rather about creating a sonic world that subtly surrounds you with unease. The use of discrete channeling, where sound drifts from one speaker to another in such a way that it feels as if it’s moving in space around you; is done with such finesse that it becomes disorienting, just when it needs to be. It’s a sound design that doesn’t hit you over the head, but rather quietly creeps up, much like Hugh Grant’s deceptively genial Mr. Reed. This effect is all the more impressive given that, in principle, the film’s relatively contained environments; small rooms, and narrow hallways, might not seem to offer the grand potential for sweeping soundscapes. Yet, through nuanced channelization, the film keeps the tension alive, even in moments when nothing physically ominous is happening. The sound subtly swirls around the viewer, as if the walls themselves are closing in.
The result is a fully immersive experience, one that feels at once intimate and slightly off-kilter, much like the characters’ unsettling interactions. Chris Bacon’s score contributes to this immersive soundscape with a beautiful spaciousness, as the composer uses the side and rear channels to fill the space with ambient, haunting melodies that echo in the periphery. The score is understated and never overbearing, but it plays a crucial role in the film’s atmosphere, enhancing the film’s subtle tension. The music often drifts, almost ethereally, through the rear speakers, creating a feeling of distance, a presence just beyond the edge of perception, as if something is always lurking just out of sight. Dialogue is always clear and well-balanced, ensuring that every unnerving conversation between Reed and his visitors lands with the precision it needs. It’s often the verbal exchanges that carry the true horror of the film, and the clean, detailed reproduction of dialogue here ensures that no word is lost in the mix, allowing the tension to mount in ways that might otherwise go unnoticed. For those watching Heretic in Dolby Atmos, the track invites you to lean in, to become part of its world, pulling you into the space with understated precision. It’s a delicate dance between sound and silence, movement and stillness, that complements the film’s themes of control and manipulation. While this track may not deliver the grandiose sound bursts that some might expect, it excels in one thing: it makes you feel like you’re not just watching the story unfold, but that you are, in a small, quiet way, being drawn into its web.
THE EXTRAS
- Audio Commentary with Director and Writer Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
- Seeing Is Believing: Behind the Scenes (16 Mins.) – A few fun interviews from the cast.
- Art Cards
THE ULTIMATE WORD
Hugh Grant’s performance as Mr. Reed is a true highlight of Heretic, his trademark charm veiling a quiet menace that becomes more unsettling with every scene. While the film struggles to fully grapple with its more ambitious metaphysical musings, its screenplay remains sharp, particularly for those intrigued by the history of religion and belief systems. Technically, Heretic delivers solid craftsmanship across the board, and the supplementary features add an enjoyable depth for those interested in the making of the film. The 4K image with Dolby Vision from A24 is a masterpiece while the Dolby Atmos track is as haunting as its narrative. There are a couple of worthwhile extras too. While it may not be a flawless exploration of faith and power, it’s certainly a compelling one, anchored by a standout performance. Highly Recommended!
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
Bryan Kluger is a Media Director, Film Critic, and Podcast Producer for various radio shows, podcasts, magazines, and online outlets. (Boomstick Media/ My Bloody Podcast/ Arts+Culture Magazine/ SoundtraxxRadio/ The Entertainment Answer Radio Show/ Fear and Loathing in Cinema)