By Anna Menta

Heretic, now streaming on Max, is my favorite kind of horror movie: It’s tense, thrilling, thought-provoking, and, ultimately, not that horrifying. What can I say? I’m a wimp! Written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the filmmaking duo behind 65 and the script for the first Quiet Place movie, Heretic stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as two young missionaries who go knocking on the wrong door. Hugh Grant’s character, Mr. Reed, may look like a kindly old man in a sweater, with a blueberry pie in the oven. But looks can be deceiving. Anchored by a career-best performance from Grant, Heretic raises interesting philosophical questions about religion, faith, and control—and entertains you along the way.

Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection