This New Hugh Grant Horror Movie from A24 Wins Over Critics
A24 is on a roll. Seriously, they seem to be releasing more movies now than they ever have before. After a summer of Imax re-releases, they’re framing the remainder of the year with bold new visions of horror. The Front Room might not have ignited the end-of-summer box office, but there’s still a lot there worth recommending. In November, we’re getting another subversion of domestic bliss with Scott Beck’s and Bryan Woods’ (A Quiet Place) Heretic starring Hugh Grant.
Per A24: Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
If you’ve seen Paddington 2, you probably won’t be surprised to see ‘90s heartthrob Hugh Grant shift into overt villain mode. Hugh Grant Horror might now sound like your cup of tea, but the Notting Hill star supposedly knocks it out of the park in Heretic. In our own 3.5 star review out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival where Heretic held its world premiere, we wrote, “And lest we forget Hugh Grant, who may just be playing his usual self by way of the sadistic doctor from The Human Centipede, is an absolute joy to witness. Every small choice made by these three help ensure Heretic is a fun field trip into the religious macabre.”
Elsewhere, the critical reception has been just as strong. Hugh Grant-horror shouldn’t work, but it does. As of this writing, Heretic is sitting pretty at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes with 28 reviews so far. Critics who saw the film’s premiere haven’t stopped raving about Hugh Grant and leads Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, Beck and Woods’s brilliant script, and the stylish way Heretic subverts expectations. Check out some choice reactions below:
Brilliant, you say? Count me in. A24 has all but solidified itself as a power player in the genre space, rivaling the likes of even Blumhouse. Where their films used to be critical hits but mainstream failures (just check out their Cinemascores), there’s been a real pivot post-Talk to Me. All signs point to Heretic being one of the best horror movies of the year, and as a certified Hugh Grant stan (a Hugh Stant), I couldn’t be happier to see it.
I want to hear what you think, though. Are you looking forward to Heretic? Did you have “Hugh Grant horror movie” on your 2024 bingo card? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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