"Heretic," the thriller spotlighting Latter-day Saint missionaries, hits theaters
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Actors Sophie Thatcher (left) and Chloe East in a movie still. Courtesy: Kimberley French/A24
A religious horror-thriller following two Latter-day Saint missionaries who find themselves trapped in the most nightmarish of scenarios hits theaters nationwide Nov. 8.
Why it matters: "Heretic," the buzzy A24 film starring Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, has sparked controversy and intrigue among Latter-day Saints and ex-members over its portrayal of the faith and missionary life.
Driving the news: We got a sneak peek last week at an advanced screening hosted by "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Whitney Rose.
The plot: Young sister missionaries (Thatcher and East), who hail from Salt Lake City and Ogden, are invited into the home of a man (Grant) who seems interested in learning about the religion. It doesn't take long for him to make his guests feel uneasy after bringing up the church's founding and its thorny history with polygamy, before trapping them in his home.
- The film is speckled with church references familiar to anyone who was raised in Utah and instances of comedic relief that defuse the film's constant dread.
Between the lines: The movie draws some similarities to "The Saratov Approach," a 2013 drama that portrays the real-life 1998 kidnapping of two Latter-day Saint missionaries, who were held captive in Russia on a $300,000 ransom.
- Except in this story, the captor has no plans of letting them escape without psychological torment and bloodshed.
The intrigue: "Heretic" was written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the minds behind the 2018 hit horror film "A Quiet Place."
- "We thought it would be special to write something frightening where the scare emerges from the dialogue — through its words and ideas," Woods said, per the film's production notes. "We hadn't seen that before, and if we did that effectively, the audience could bring their own ideas around religion to the movie — what we believe or don't believe."
- The actors who play the missionaries are former church members themselves.
Yes, but: Ahead of its release, many churchgoers braced themselves for the latest Hollywood depiction of their faith following a string of crime documentaries and dramas that rely on, what they see as, tired stereotypes and extremes.
- "Like many Hollywood productions, this is a work of fiction and is not based on actual events," church spokesperson Doug Andersen said in a statement to Axios. "It portrays the graphically violent treatment of women, including people of faith, and those who provide volunteer service to their communities."
- Andersen noted the church has almost 80,000 missionaries serving worldwide and equips them with safety training.
What they're saying: "The concept of the film about exploring belief and disbelief‚ I think it's an interesting premise," said Rebbie Brassfield, who co-runs the Mormons in Media Instagram account and a new podcast with the same name. "I hope that it is showing members of the church as people who are wrestling with those questions, because we are."
- Brassfield, a lifelong member of the church who plans to see the movie, told Axios she's protective of missionaries, who are often unfairly shown as "flat, super naive" characters in media.
- "Even the few shots in the trailer of the missionaries talking, it feels really realistic," she noted. "That's something I haven't seen a lot of."
My thought bubble: The film — which explores themes around religion, power, control and capitalism — strongly captures the lengths people will endure to hold onto their beliefs.
- Its twists and turns, even as a horror fanatic, kept me on my toes.