The cast of A24’s horror thriller shares how the film’s exploration of faith reshaped their personal beliefs.
In Heretic, A24’s upcoming horror thriller set to hit theatres this November, the exploration of religion plays a central role in the plot, leaving a lasting impact on its cast, particularly Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher. Both actresses, who portray Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, respectively, revealed how the film made them reflect on their own beliefs and views on faith.
Speaking to ComicBook, Thatcher, who plays the strong-willed Sister Barnes, shared how learning about early religions for the film reshaped her understanding of faith. “I learned a lot about earlier religions, so I think that’s interesting to learn that a lot of religions are just re-iterations of the same story,” she said. “So that was interesting. But yeah, I’ve always been kind of agnostic. So this kind of re-affirmed my belief.”
East, who portrays the more complex Sister Paxton, echoed similar sentiments. “I feel like I know basic knowledge about Mormonism and the points that people say that Mr. Reed [played by Hugh Grant] points out, but Sister Barnes counters every single argument about Mormonism and religion,” East explained. She emphasized that the film’s approach to religion wasn’t a “cop-out,” offering a nuanced look at the topic.
East also opened up about how her character and the story challenged her views. “I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m definitely not Paxton,'” East said. “But then as the movie went on I had more sympathy, and I just was like, ‘Wait… do I feel like Paxton?'” She admitted that she related to her character more than she initially expected, making her reflect on her own beliefs.
In addition to the exploration of faith, the film’s antagonist, Mr. Reed, is portrayed by Hugh Grant, who went to great lengths to develop his character’s backstory. Grant explained how he meticulously crafted a detailed biography for Mr. Reed, delving into his past, relationships, and traumatic experiences to understand what shaped him into the “monster” he is in the film. “The answer to each question suggests something about him and his past,” Grant noted, adding that this deep dive helped him bring authenticity to the character.
As Heretic prepares to test both the characters’ and viewers’ faith in the thriller’s dark narrative, East and Thatcher’s personal reflections on the film offer a glimpse into how deeply *Heretic* engages with the themes of belief and the complexity of personal faith.
