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Heretic poster

Heretic

Movie 2024 111 min Thriller, Horror Last reviewed 2 Sep 2026
Official Rating MA 15+ ClearAge 16+ Quality ★★★★☆

Our take

Heretic follows two missionaries trapped by a manipulative homeowner who tests their beliefs. The R rating covers disturbing bloody violence and language. Dialogue includes theological debates, sex-on-camera discussion, fire-starting talk, and kill threats. Tense and talky rather than nonstop action, but the third act turns brutal. Older teens and adults only

Uplifting themes

Perseverance under pressure appears briefly amid horror Missionaries try to protect each other, though outcomes are grim

Story (may spoil tone)

Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

What we flagged

Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.

View all categories

Violence
Strong
Sex
Mild
Frightening
Strong
Language
Mild

Details

Violence Strong Trap violence, bloodshed references, and lethal cat-and-mouse turns

Trap violence, bloodshed references, and lethal cat-and-mouse turns

Language Mild Damn and hell during stress; moderate overall for an R thriller

Damn and hell during stress; moderate overall for an R thriller

Sex / nudity Mild Explicit intercourse and filming references in theological arguments

Explicit intercourse and filming references in theological arguments

Drugs / alcohol Mild Caffeine-and-alcohol banter; smoke-through-pipe talk in a trap

Caffeine-and-alcohol banter; smoke-through-pipe talk in a trap

Frightening Strong Locked-house dread and mind games dominate before violence erupts

Locked-house dread and mind games dominate before violence erupts

Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title

No self-harm found in this title

Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title

No child peril found in this title

Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title

No bullying found in this title

Gore / death / weapons Mild Dead-body talk and bloody aftermath; gore spikes late

Dead-body talk and bloody aftermath; gore spikes late

Dangerous behaviour Mild Fire-starting and door-to-door risk without safety framing

Fire-starting and door-to-door risk without safety framing

Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title

No eating found in this title

Mental health No mental health found in this title

No mental health found in this title

Gambling No gambling found in this title

No gambling found in this title

Grief / bereavement Mild Father's death mentioned in backstory conversation

Father's death mentioned in backstory conversation

Talk after watching

  • Mr. Reed traps the elders with puzzles about belief. How do people respond when faith is tested?
  • Horror uses conversation before jumps. Does slow tension feel scarier than fast gore?