A24’s ‘HERETIC’: April Release Features Hugh Grant’s Spine-Chilling Role

The film ‘HERETIC’ is set for release in Japan on April 25, 2025. This new psycho-thriller, described as an “escape psycho-thriller,” is brought to audiences by A24, the studio behind acclaimed horror films such as ‘Hereditary,’ ‘Midsommar,’ ‘Lamb,’ and ‘Talk to Me.’ Directed by Brian Woods and Scott Beck, the pair known for their work on ‘A Quiet Place,’ the movie made an impressive debut in North America on November 8, 2024, where it secured the number 2 spot at the box office.

Critics have lauded ‘HERETIC’ for its unexpected and meticulously crafted storyline. Vanity Fair calls it “a glamorous script with twists,” while Boston Globe praises its ability to “scare audiences while sparking conversations long after the credits roll.”

The story follows two young Mormon sisters who, during a torrential downpour, visit a house for missionary work. Welcoming them inside, the man offers, “Why don’t we talk inside? You’ll get wet in the rain.” The sisters, adhering to their rules, decline, saying they cannot enter a house where only a man lives. However, the man responds, “I have a wife. Do you like pie? She’s baking one now.” Trusting him, they enter—unaware that the house is filled with deadly traps from which they cannot escape.

Hugh Grant, known for his roles in ‘Love Actually,’ ‘Notting Hill,’ and the ‘Bridget Jones’ series, takes on a very different role in this film, shedding his typical charming, witty image. Grant plays Mr. Reed, a mysterious figure with a genius IQ and an extensive knowledge of all religions. Rolling Stone has called his performance “terrifying to the point of death.” The two sisters are portrayed by Sophie Thatcher, known for The Boogeyman, and Chloe East from The Fabelmans.