By continuing to use this website you agree to our terms and conditions. If you don't agree with our terms and conditions, you are not permitted to continue using this website.
Table of Contents
Hugh Grant’s first movie Heretic broke box office records and showed him in a bold new role.
Instead of writing about his usual sweet characters, Grant writes about darker ones, which has led to a thrilling plot that has captivated readers.
The movie, which was directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, has both scary and thought-provoking themes.
It also makes a strong case against using AI to make movies. This is the start of a new era for both A24 and Grant’s career.
Keep reading to know more details.
Heretic’s Record-Breaking Debut Weekend and Audience Response
The latest horror movie from A24, Heretic, hit a big milestone when it took in over $10 million in its first weekend in North America.
This is A24’s highest-grossing opening since COVID, and it’s also their third-highest-grossing opening of all time, after Hereditary ($13.6 million)and Civil War ($25.5 million).
Hugh Grant played a bad guy who lives alone in the movie Heretic, which came out on November 8, 2024.
When the movie made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, it got a lot of attention and praise, especially for Grant’s terrifyingperformance.
The movie Heretic got a93%“Fresh” review from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 78% score from audiences, which means that most people liked it.
Even though Heretic got aC+grade on CinemaScore, a site that measures how people feel about movies, it made more than the $10 to $13 million that was expected by the industry, making a total of $11 million in its first three days.
This strong showing shows that A24 can still attract people to niche, thought-provoking films after COVID-19.
The studio’s focus on high-concept horror and original stories has helped it get a foothold in the changing movie business, and Heretic has only added to A24’s image.
Hugh Grant’s Career Evolution
Hugh Grant’s growth as an actor has captivated viewers for many years.
Grant is best known for his parts in classic romantic films like Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
His role in Heretic is very different from the charming and funny characters he usually plays.
As Mr. Reed, an unsettling and reclusive Englishman with a dark side, Grant shows that he can play complicated, morally ambiguous parts that show off his range as an actor.
Reports say that taking on such a dangerouscharactergave him new tasks, which he was happy to accept.
In an interview, Grant talked about the job and said, “People need challenges.” Being on top of a mountain makes your beer taste better at night.
The change in Grant has been noticed by both reviewers and audiences. Rex Reed, writing for The Observer, said that the movie was “overwrought” and more fake horror than real.
However, he praised Grant’s performance and pointed out that his charm still shines through even though his character is more evil.
Reed even made fun of the fact that Grant couldn’t turn off hisfamouscharm, even when he was playing a bad guy.
This shift into horror and bad guy parts shows that Grant wants to break out of the molds that he was previously stuck in, try new genres, and get deeper into his art.
With another part expected in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which is set to come out in 2025.
Grant’s career path shows that he wants to take on more risky and different roles, which made his reputation as one of Britain’s most versatile and long-lasting actors.
Exploring the Themes and Plot of Heretic
Heretic is a scary movie about two young Mormon missionaries, played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, who show up at Mr. Reed’s creepy, isolated home.
At first, Mr. Reed seems friendly and polite, but as soon as he starts arguing with the missionaries about faith and religion, it becomes clear that he has darker motives.
What starts as a talk that seems harmless quickly turns into a nightmare. People who watch the show are dragged into a tense situation where they have to wonder why Reed is playing with the women.
When the girls realize that Reed’s house is not only a jail of ideas but also a real trap, things start to change.
The young women are trapped inside by locked doors, a raging weather, and evil plans.
They are led to a basement dungeon where other prisoners are waiting for their terrible fate.
Reed becomes a serial killer, poisoning his victims with blueberry pie and enjoying cruel routines.
This makes the horror even worse. Classic horror tropes are mixed with layers of ideological tension by the film’s makers, Beck and Woods.
This makes Heretic a mix of a horror movie and a philosophical thriller. The characters’ helplessness, the setting’s isolation, and the constant asking of what is real and what is just a test of faith all add to the horror.
Observer’s Rex Reed called the movie a “whydunit” that was more about ideology than real horror.
However, the film’s tension, mystery, and spooky portrayal of religiousdebategive it a new angle in the horror genre and force viewers to think about how belief and cruelty can affect each other.
The Directors’ Stance Against AI inHeretic
Beyond its plot, Heretic delivers a critical message on the role of generative AI in filmmaking, which Beck and Woods emphasize in the film’s end credits.
The statement “No generative AI was used in the making of this film” appears prominently, marking a clear stand by the directors on this divisive issue.
Beck and Woods are outspoken about the risks posedby AI, particularly in creative industries like film. They argue that AI threatens to erase the human touch essential to storytelling.
Woods expressed concern that “an algorithm can just scrape all of human history and art off the internet, repackage it, regurgitate it, and spit it out,” a process he views as a violation of artistic integrity.
According to Variety, this anti-AI stance is shared by A24, known for its artist-centric philosophy.
The director’smessageresonates at a time when studios like Disney and Blumhouse are exploring AI’s capabilities, sparking debate on whether the technology will enhance or diminish the creative process.
Beck underscored that Hollywood’s dependence on AI could impact millions of jobs, citing a Goldman Sachs study suggesting that generative AI could eventually displace over 300 million jobs globally.
He warns that the industry’s greed could lead to creative compromises, a fear he believes requires urgent attention.
Although Woods acknowledges the awe-inspiring potential of AI, he stated, “Beautiful things will come of it…now let’s bury it underground with nuclear warheads, ’cause it might kill us all.”
Through their stance, Beck and Woods advocate for preserving humanity in art, cautioning against a future where profit-driven algorithms overshadow human expression and creativity.
Heretic Movie Trailer
Heretic’s Opening Weekend Highlights
Key Metrics
Details
Opening Weekend Earnings
$11 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics)
93%
Rotten Tomatoes Score (Audience)
78%
Premiere Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
CinemaScore Rating
C+
Heretic’s Opening Weekend Highlights
Conclusion
It’s not just the fact that Heretic did well at the box office; it also changed Hugh Grant’s career.
Grant is known for his romantic comedies, but his turn as a scary bad guy shows how versatile he is as an actor and adds to his already amazing career.
Also, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods directed a movie that is both interesting and scary, which brings A24’s horror brand even more attention.
Their strong anti-AI message shows that they are committed to the traditional, human-centered creative process in films and start a conversation about the future of the industry.
As people and reviewers alike talk about the movie’s themes and Grant’s amazing performance, Heretic solidifies its status as a major cultural and cinematic event after COVID-19.
Last Updated: November 14, 2024
