Last Year’s Creepiest Religious Horror Movie Is Now Streaming On Max
The first big twist comes about 25 minutes into the film when Sister Barnes realizes that the blueberry pie smell is coming from a candle, not an actual pie baking in the kitchen.
A24 is a movie studio that has put out some of the best and scariest horror movies in recent memory. Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), Green Room (2015), The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) and The VVitch (2015) were all released by A24. They have an exclusive agreement with the streaming service Max where every A24 movie hits Max first. Now, A24’s creepy religious horror movie, Heretic (2024), is free to view for Max subscribers.
Heretic follows two mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), who are currently on a mission to save souls in an unnamed American city. They show up to the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) to proselytize and are invited in by the seemingly curious recluse. They agree to enter the home only after Mr. Reed promises that his wife will join them after she finishes baking a blueberry pie in the kitchen. This seems to be confirmed by the smell of blueberry pie wafting in the air.
The first big twist comes about 25 minutes into the film, when Sister Barnes realizes that the blueberry pie smell is not coming from a blueberry pie baking in the oven, but from a scented candle Mr. Reed has lit. In short order the girls realize they are trapped inside the house and Mr. Reed has a much more sinister intention for inviting the young missionaries inside.
Over at Creepy Catalog, we rated Heretic as the 12th best horror movie of 2024. It was nominated for a number of awards and grossed $57.4 million worldwide against a budget of $10 million. Heretic is definitely worth a watch for anyone with opinions about religious missionaries or people just looking for a fun cat-and-mouse horror thriller.
