HERETIC - Movie Review

[RecliningFurniture]

Have to disagree with this one. The movie worked best when Hugh was at full intellectual throttle but you still weren't quite sure were he was going with it. The idea of ridiculing his take-down of religion wouldn't have worked at all (though there was a missed opportunity in the script to make clear that The Landlord's Game was in fact conceived as a learning tool about economic exploitation before it became Monopoly). He actually had the best arguments and his character, and the film as a whole, was at its most engaging when concentrating on that side of his personality. A shame they didn't quite stick the landing. Great performance from Hugh, though, and I thought the better parts of film made this worth watching.

[compilemama]

I think Paddington 2 did wonders for Hugh Grant’s career. That’s where the resurgence happened and then he landed some good and memorable roles in The Gentleman, Wonka and Dungeons and Dragons where he seems to be really enjoying himself. We love a good comeback story.

[shawnjackson]

I loved the movie, the female characters were very interesting to me, especially Sister Paxton, her compassion and her intelligence that she underrates.

[michaeltylerable]

I just wanted to comment that I discovered your page about a month and a half ago and its been such a blast digging through your back catalogue. I'm now a regular viewer and you're now in my top 3 favorite movie reviewers to watch on Youtube. I appreciate your perspective and articulation when it comes to reviewing movies. You're simply great!

[GeorgeDrake]

Once her hand got on her head it never left. Which is impressive with all the takes.

[MindbodyMedic]

I like when the spelled out the Dantes Inferno metaphor literally with a diagram of it on the wall.

[SteveSmartPoetryandMusic]

Oh thank you. I kept feeling there was a point beyond 'oh he's a creep, just a creep with an over-inflated sense of his own intellect' and there wasn't. He's charming, manipulative, sure, but after all there's nothing more. And when the (surviving, intentionally less interesting up to this point) Mormon girl suddenly sees the light, it felt hollow. It felt like a cheap leap to justify a lot of misogynistic nonsense. I agree that there is a better vehicle waiting for Hugh Grant, and more likely since this pretty average film seems to have made a bunch of money for the studio. I got swept up in the art direction and the sound work to the point where I almost believed there was dramatic tension, but felt kind of sick when I reflected back afterwards. If you enjoy watching charming British actors playing creepy/nasty I recommend Patrick Stewart in Green Room as a masterclass in subversion. That one lost money but is so much more intriguing.

[Polymorphia]

Yeah, this movie had so much gong for it (premise, aesthetics, atmosphere, sound design, excellent performances across the board) and could have been, should have been SO much better than it was. Ultimately, it comes down to poor plotting and writing. The characterizations were great up front, but at the halfway point Sister Paxton basically became an entirely different character (a character showing growth and having a satisfying arc are one thing, but the leap she took was just jarring and unrealistic), and the revelation of the method (such as it is) behind Mr. Reed's madness was soooo disappointing that it sort of drained all the goodness from the promise with which the story started.

Having said all that, I'd give the film a solid 8.5 out of 10, and will definitely be giving the film a rewatch at some point, now free from the lofty expectations which that fantastic teaser trailer set me up with going in(!)

[sagarsaxena]

Brilliant review as usual. Watched this movie a few days back and could never articulate it the way you did.

[statichousemusic]

I enjoy this channel. Alls you need is a Movie style set... DVDs, VHS tapes, posters.
You know. A little screening room.

[ikaramba]

If you grew up in a cult, you’d probably have appreciated the movie more.

[Greenmembr]

You are dead on with every point. I was waiting for a moment to transcend and it never happened. Their films seem so keen on tweaks of narrative convention with similar concepts, but they spell it out so quickly. There’s no nuance or resonant quality that makes it memorable or proper visual storytelling to aide the screenplay. It’s fairly black and white, it’s such a basic level for theology and leaves much to be desired.

[Naans]

Please, please review A Different Man 😩

We MUST know your thoughts on it! It recognize its brilliance while also finding it very frustrating. I would love to know what you think.

[maniacfantastic]

I had similar thoughts. Great video. *I'm learning that I have to figure out a way to make my reviews more cohesive like this lol

[billy_little]

So glad someone out there is on the same page as me. A lot of my friends RAVE about this movie and as a mid-to-late-30 year old, this fell apart so fast. Loved the setup, loved the cast, the mood, the tension, but as soon as the politeness started to get strained, it began to unravel quickly for me. I don’t regret watching it, but I’m not thrilled that I watched it, either. 2.5/5

[laneyboggs]

How is it we’re supposed to believe that in the time the girls were at the door while the guy comes looking for them that a woman was able to pop up thru a loud metal door in the ground that was covered by dirt and a table and they didn’t hear it??? as well as remove a body and sit down without being heard??? plus when she discovers the door the dirt was completely untouched. the series of other rooms Paxton passes thru as well were just for aesthetic??? the occult/satanic rooms before they get to the locked up missionaries. the immediate switch in personality she goes thru once her friend dies was so quick and unbelievable. The dialogue got so cheesy from that part of the film to the end

[Elephant]

Hitchcock was the master of that technique insofar as presenting characters who are not what they appear to be on the surface. Evil is internalized rather than being overt.

[jonathannoble]

I recently saw a 35mm print of The Lair of the White Worm with young Hugh Grant and recommend it highly. Very much a hidden gem

[slc]

Paid $5.00 last night, and thought it was worth it. Grant and his costars were fantastic, even if the storyline didn't completely work.

[pesky]

This film worked much better for me than you. Felt like a film adaptation of a really good stage play.