There’s a new Amazon Prime horror film rocketing up the streaming charts – and with a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s been hailed a “masterpiece” by subscribers. Released in 2024, the film stars Hugh Grant and made an impressive box office profit compared to its tiny budget of just £7million.
Heretic raised £44million at the global box office, around six times larger than its own budget. It follows Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes, played by Sophie Thatcher and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) who travel to Mr Reed’s home to tell him more about joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Things quickly start to go wrong when the girls become trapped in Reed’s house and told to choose from one of two doors to exit, in a stunt that will test their beliefs to the limit. The film’s atmosphere has been branded “chilling” by fans, and deals with the topic of theology with unexpected nuance for a horror.
One reviewer said: “Heretic. Hugh Grant is absolutely brilliant. Manages to make an unarmed middle aged man in a brown jumper epically scary. A great watch.” Somebody else agreed: “Hugh Grant gets better every time I watch him. Heretic is totally absorbing… It takes real talent to demand your attention with minimal players.”
Another viewer said: “I had no idea this film was so impressive, packed with exquisite dialogue. It’s like I’ve been in a classroom… They come back and tell you the truth right in your face.”
And somebody else echoed: “I honestly can’t imagine something more horrifying than being trapped in a room with a man telling me his opinions on religion, so this movie really worked for me.”
The film boasts a 91% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating, a critic score of 7.3 out of 10 and an audience rating of 76%.