Hollywood star Hugh Grant has shocked fans in his surprising role in Heretic, a psychological horror thriller now making waves on Amazon Prime.
Best known for his charming rom-com presence, Grant takes a dark turn as a mysterious man who traps two Mormon missionaries inside his home, spinning a chilling web of mind games and moral conflict.
The film has already sparked strong reactions online, with fans praising Grant’s eerie performance.
The movie's atmospheric style and suspense-filled plot have already proved a hit with horror fans across the county.
Fans took to the film review site Rotten Tomatoes, which overall rated the film 91%, to express their feelings about Grant's chilling role.
Online reviewer Dan Buffa explained how plot twists and "too-on-the-nose" moments haven't deterred Grant from "arguably his best performance."
"Gone is the slick, magazine-cover rom-com star, and in his place is a multi-faceted performer who can give a chilly monologue some conviction," he said.
Gisela Savdie outlined the major themes of the Grant's contribution, "Heretic leaves us reflecting on the themes of religion and faith, while confronting us with the terrifying consequences of blindly believing."
Sarah Marrs said "Every twist in Heretic is a fresh horror, and it builds so steadily that as bonkers as it is, the finale feels earned."
As of February 17, 2025, Heretic has taken in an impressive $28 million (£21.1 million) at the box office across the United States and Canada. The film has also proved popular internationally, earning a further $31.2 million (£23.5 million) from overseas markets, bringing its total global takings to $59.2 million (£44.6 million).
These number may sound big, however these compare to Grant's number one best performing movie at the box office, Notting Hill, which took $364 million (£274.5 million) and Bridget Jones's Diary in second place at $282 million (£212.60).
While overall reviews of Heretic were outstandingly positive, not everyone bought into the film, with some criticizing the plot and directing.
Noah Berlatsky said "The power of Grant's performance can only take a film so far, and soon enough we are back with the genre tropes of endless hectoring and improbable manipulation—first by the bad guy, but even more egregiously by the ham-fisted directing duo."
Nelson Acosta agreed, "Hugh Grant shines as an evil character," he said. "But the film's lacklustre script and pacing fail to deliver a satisfying horror experience."
However, most reviewers agreed with Maitland McDonough, who said "Kudos to writer-directors Scott Beck and Ryan Woods for taking house-of-horror tropes and infusing them with a credible sense of menace. ... [T]he way the scenario plays out is both impressively brutal, multilayered and, I must confess, rather haunting."
Heretic is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.
