Heretic movie 2024: How the Hugh Grant thriller plays with the Mormon church.

In the new thriller Heretic, from A Quiet Place directors Bryan Woods and Scott Beck, Hugh Grant plays the conniving Mr. Reed, a man who poses as a religious seeker eager to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in order to lure two young women into his house. Director of media relations Doug Andersen told Utah’s ABC affiliate that Heretic “portrays the graphically violent treatment of women” and “runs counter to the safety and well-being of our communities.” On Nov. 4, days ahead of the film’s release, the LDS church also issued a news release called “How the Church of Jesus Christ Keeps Missionaries Safe.” They link out to a missionary handbook that advises missionaries to “Leave immediately if you or your companion feels uncomfortable about a location, person, or situation. Listen to spiritual promptings.” Despite instructing missionaries in sound safety principles like situational awareness, none of the specific rules the church details in the release or handbook would have saved the movie’s heroines from Mr. Reed’s at first friendly overtures. “Sister missionaries aren’t allowed to be in a house alone with a man, so that rule helped.” I told her that in Heretic, the missionaries reiterate this rule, but Mr. Reed hoodwinks them into believing his wife is inside the house and will be joining them shortly. We had to report our number of lessons and baptismal rates to our district leader and would get chastised if we didn’t have enough.” According to the church’s missionaries past and present, threats they encounter in various parts of the world can vary wildly based on geography, political context, and chance, but missions can be both terrifying and truly dangerous, from extreme weather conditions to armed robberies, sexual harassment, and assault.