‘Heretic’ is Packed With Hidden References to Iconic Stories
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ most recent A24 horror movie, ‘Heretic’, combines aspects of old fairy tales with religious themes to create a dark, contemporary fantasy. The narrative centres on Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), two Mormon missionaries who take refuge at Mr. Reed’s (Hugh Grant) house during a snowstorm. After initially coming across as hospitable and courteous, Mr. Reed quickly exposes a nefarious agenda, trapping the women in a series of faith-testing and deadly symbolic riddles.
The movie deftly incorporates fairy tale and mythological allusions. The expansive underground labyrinth that is Mr. Reed’s home is reminiscent of the Greek myth of Theseus negotiating King Minos’ labyrinth, which is guarded by the Minotaur. The choice between two doors labelled “belief” and “disbelief”—a reference to both biblical teachings and the fantasy classic ‘Labyrinth’ (1986)—repeats this theme of choices and concealed hazards. The disturbing decision is reminiscent of frequent storytelling devices in which heroes are put to the test through seemingly insurmountable trials.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
There are several references to fairy tales. Mr Reed’s offer of blueberry pie to entice the missionaries inside has obvious similarities to ‘Hansel and Gretel’, while the missionaries approaching his snow-covered driveway are reminiscent of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. These components serve as the foundation for the movie’s philosophical examination of deception, truth, and storytelling. Beck and Woods go so far as to call ‘Heretic’ a parable, which, like fairy tales, exaggerates reality in order to teach deeper lessons and warn of hidden dangers.
The film’s conclusion makes it difficult to distinguish between imagination and reality. Paxton escapes and spots a butterfly, a recurrent sign connected to a Taoist tale about identity and dreams, while Barnes appears to come back to knife Mr Reed. Heretic’s emphasis on tales, symbolism, and the thin line separating illusion from reality is further supported by its confusing conclusion. By fusing horror with fairy tale imagery, the movie intensifies its unsettling, provocative effect.
–Farheen Ali
