'Heretic': The Thriller That Will Change the Way You See Hugh Grant

 PREMIERE

In Heretic, the game is not just an activity; it is an existential question. From the moment two young missionaries knock on the wrong door, the film drags us into an invisible board, where the rules are written with blood, fear, and, above all, doubts.

There is something profoundly human about the game, that compulsion to confront randomness, to face the challenge. Johan Huizinga, the Dutch historian and theorist, spoke of homo ludens, the human being who plays to give meaning to the world, and in Heretic, this idea becomes intrinsically woven into the central theme.

Reed plays. And he does so with chilling mastery, as if every move is calculated to dismantle not only the will of his opponents but also their perception of themselves. The character, portrayed by Hugh Grant, is not a mere antagonist; he is a born player, an addict to strategy.

This dynamic of the game fits perfectly into the tradition of mind game films, those movies that turn every interaction into a psychological duel and every decision into an unpredictable twist. From The Game by Fincher to Saw or even Ex Machina, the playing field is both external and internal. Here, Mr. Reed not only manipulates the missionaries; he manipulates the viewer as well, making us question what we see, what we believe, and what we would do in their place.

The brilliance of Heretic lies in how it turns every dialogue into a strategic move, every decision into a potential trap. Reed does not just play; he rewrites the rules as he goes along, just like the great antagonists of mind game films. One moment, he seems to offer an escape; in the next, that escape turns out to be another layer of the game. As viewers, we are unwitting accomplices, trapped in the same "escape room" as the protagonists.

But without a doubt, what you’ll remember most after watching the film is Hugh Grant’s legendary performance. The English actor, commonly known for his roles in romantic comedies like Notting Hill and Love Actually, demonstrates here a transition that breaks with the charming and light-hearted career he once built.

This phenomenon of comedic actors venturing into drama or thriller territory has caught the public’s attention in recent years. Grant, in particular, seems to have found in Heretic the opportunity to channel his cynical charm and sense of irony into something darker; comedy dissolves into terror and drama.

Heretic is an experience that tests the mind, heart, and soul. A psychological thriller that not only offers twists but invites viewers into a game they’ll never be able to abandon. It premieres on January 3rd in all theaters across Spain—it's time to play.

@LOVACAINE