While Exhuma (2024) received a 93 percent Tomatometer score, Heretic (2024) follows with an impressive 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It is one of the favorite dark thrillers of critics, more precisely, religious thrillers, that has topped Rotten Tomatoes horror genre in 2024.
We have 7 reasons why Rotten Tomatoes loves Heretic and became a critical hit among the other big horror flicks released in 2024, such as Exhuma, Nosferatu (2024), and Longlegs (2024).
7 reasons why Rotten Tomatoes loves Heretic
Heretic is 2024’s Rotten Tomatoes horror darling, and we think there are seven reasons for it.
A new kind of religious horror
Heretic did not make use of demonic tropes and cheap shocks. Rather, it capitalized on an intelligent element called religious thriller, which delves into religion as manipulation, power, and control.
Mr. Reed (played by Hugh Grant), the main antagonist of the film, explained to the two Mormon girls who visited his home to explain their Christian beliefs that one true religion is ‘control’.
A chilling and smart exploration of faith versus fear, where the haunted house wasn’t the reason for our scares, but religion was. There is no gore, violence, or torture in the film, but a simple articulation of religious facts that we, as a normal audience, were even unaware of.
Fun fact: An example of a film three decades apart that used a mix of gore and psychological tension, and grabbed the audience’s attention in the first fifteen minutes, just like Heretic, is Se7en (1995). It built a dark, harrowing, and gothic atmosphere with continuous rain, also seen in Heretic. The psychological terror of Seven crept into our bones right from the beginning, similar to the clever idea of blueberry pie that set the paranoiac tone for the two missionaries.
Hugh Grant’s darkest role yet
Hugh Grant is mostly known for his charming rom-com roles in films like Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), and Love Actually (2003). His captivatingly villainous performance in Heretic has won him critical praise from all over Rotten Tomatoes. They call it his career-defining performance.
What’s the best part of his hair-raising performance in Heretic? He never belittles the two missionaries and never talks to them condescendingly. He only tries to prove his point with strong counterarguments accompanied by thought-provoking facts, backed by evidence that instilled a sense of doubt in the minds of the passionate and well-intentioned religious missionaries and even the viewers.
And while we are talking about ‘performances,’ Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East have been commendable as well. These two characters showed how firm beliefs can get you out of any form of hardship. Not giving up on humanity and selfless beliefs remains the only option for survival in any unfathomable situation.
Dialogue that haunts
The above-mentioned reason gives more strength to Heretic to rule the Rotten Tomatoes horror genre since Mr. Reed’s religious rationales and discussions are powerful enough to confuse a staunch religious believer- a believer who would think twice while casting his vote for a political party and how the chosen candidate would affect his religious faith.
The film opens with heavy, gripping debates from both sides in an apparently pleasant and comfortable setting of Reed’s house. As Forbes cited,
“What starts out as a cordial and pleasant discussion quickly becomes a wildly intricate game that preys upon confusion and fear, as Mr. Reed shares a plethora of history and knowledge that conflicts with the young women’s prideful beliefs.” [Source]
Heretic’s phenomenal dialogues are the real genius of Reed’s character, as the confabulations might baffle some of the most devoted religious believers from all walks of life.
Claustrophobic setting- psychological intensity
When nothing at all is happening, the fear of the unknown makes the best psychological thriller ever a film could be. And that is why this is another reason Heretic has the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the horror genre.
A single, oppressive house with shadowy corridors, mind-boggling underground rooms with their perplexing pathways, and the dark decor that amplified dread made every frame of the film look like a trap.
The plain stating of religious facts in a long colloquy, sometimes in the form of Grant’s monologue, created a terrifying, claustrophobic setting, encapsulated ingeniously in this unique horror film.
Themes that stick
Heretic thrives on themes like faith, control, skepticism, and the origins of belief. These instigate the viewers to question what they have known and believed for centuries, and why they were convinced to accept the truth that way.
It could be deeply unsettling for those who could easily fall prey to carefully constructed religious narratives in the film, which imply how strongly the conversations can reconstruct brain cells and lead them to a predetermined conclusion.
The themes serve a larger picture of a metaphor for our society with ultimately believable logic, which more appropriately looks like psychological manipulation.
Smart pacing, though polarizing
The film’s first half is filled with intense and scholarly conversations; the second half is more visually horrific, especially when a half-dead woman is seen in one of the underground rooms, whom Reed assures has reincarnated.
The film’s pacing is neat, which some of the viewers found to be slipping from the thematic momentum, but was essential to make a shift into visceral stakes.
Critical praise and awards recognition
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Critics were obsessed with Heretic as soon as it was released, after Exhuma, evident from the Rotten Tomatoes score. Multiple film critic award nominations, including for Best Horror Film and Hugh Grant’s lead performances, were bagged by Heretic.
Astra Film Awards, Michigan Movie Critics Guild Awards, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, and several more praised Hugh Grant for his clean yet mesmerizing performance in Heretic.
Wrapping up…
Heretic is not just a film- it is a challenge to our religious beliefs that terrifies us to death. It is a sheer psychological crucible that blends theological debate in a slow-burn thriller style.
With minimalist settings, Hugh Grant’s unnerving transformation tightens the hold around the audience’s mind. It would not be wrong to say that Heretic attempts to draw in with existential dread and cerebral suspense that lingers hours after the credits have rolled.
What moment in Heretic gave you chills… or changed your mind? Join the conversation.
Passionate Entertainment Writer | Trusted Pop Culture Voice
Madiha Ali is an experienced entertainment writer with over five years of expertise in covering movies, TV shows, celebrity news, and pop culture. Her bylines appear on trusted platforms like Screen Anarchy, High on Films, Ary News, The Express Tribune, Tea and Banter, Show Snob, CelebFeedz, Snapfeedz, Daily Planet Media, The Irish Insider, and Movie Insiderz.
She brings a personal, insightful approach to every story—whether she’s analyzing the emotional layers of a film or giving her take on trending celebrity headlines. Madiha’s writing style is known for being authentic, well-researched, and reader-focused.
When she’s not writing, she’s fully immersed in the world of entertainment—watching new releases, revisiting classics, exploring behind-the-scenes content, or reading books that fuel her creativity. Her passion for storytelling drives her work and helps her stay connected to what matters most in the industry.
Madiha believes great stories start conversations, challenge perspectives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Through her writing, she continues to share those stories with clarity, depth, and heart.
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