Heretic Review [Video]

The spotlight on Mormon culture has grown brighter and brighter over the past few years, with Heretic being the latest to add to the conversation. Ahead of the film’s release, the A24 marketing team capitalized on this, recruiting Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s ex-Mormon star Whitney Rose and the cast member of Hulu’s buzzy new Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt. Their beliefs, whether former or present, have still reached a younger generation, with soda shops taking over TikTok — something the film pokes at, as the religious text permits alcohol but doesn’t explicitly outlaw caffeinated beverages.

However, unlike the reality shows that seem to gloss over the darker details of the Mormon church, Heretic challenges those beliefs (and religion as a whole) while delivering a spooky horror film in the process. We first meet Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) as they try to …