I saw seven films at this year's TIFF, and the one that got my vote for best picture was HERETIC starring Hugh Grant (who also would have gotten my vote for best actor if that was a voting category). I was very impressed seeing him get in touch with his dark side in the HBO miniseries THE UNDOING, but here he takes it to 11 playing an affable, religion-obsessed psychopath. It's a break from his rom-com persona of schizophrenic proportions.
Co-stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are also excellent playing two Mormon missionary girls who think that they will be calling on someone interested in converting to Mormonism. But Grant turns out to be far more erudite - and questioning -- about religion than they expected. When they realize that he's not really interested in converting but more in debating religion, they try to depart but discover that they're trapped inside. So begins a cat and mouse game where Grant puts their faith to the test.
As horror goes, it's solid, but doesn't reach the extremes of similarly claustrophobic horror films like FUNNY GAMES (original) and SPEAK NO EVIL (2022 version). The outcome is refreshingly unconventional. My only cavil is that the choice of Mormonism for the religion seems a tad calculated.
In short, see this movie if you've ever enjoyed a Hugh Grant film and want to see him at the peak of his game. I haven't felt this sure about an acting Oscar nomination for a TIFF film since I saw Allison Janney in I TONYA in 2017
Side note: There was a Q & A after the film and several people commended me on the way out for a question I asked: "Was Richard Dawkins an influence?" Co-director Bryan Woods confirmed that he was.
