Hugh Grant treats missionaries like lab rats in Heretic trailer

Of all the actor career renaissances we’ve seen over the last couple decades, Hugh Grant’s might be the most fun. He pivoted from the go-to charming and/or smarmy romantic comedy lead to playing weirdos, goofballs, and creeps. Imagine a row of dominoes that starts with Paddington 2 and trips all the way down to Heretic (in theaters November 15), where he plays a genuinely sinister villain in a proper horror movie. Who’s doing it like Hugh?

In Heretic, “Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse,” per the synopsis for the film. The A24 horror stars Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher as two young Mormons (or Mormon-esque) girls who are naive enough to take Mr. Reed at his word that his wife is inside baking pie. Who could blame them: that Hugh Grant is a charming fellow! But his charm takes a turn for the frightening when he puts on those classic serial killer glasses. Turns out, Mr. Reed’s house is somehow specifically designed to ensnare and “study” door-to-door missionaries, and he wants to put their faith to the ultimate test.

Beyond the initial entrapment, the trailer doesn’t give too much away in regard to actual scares. The girls are offered the choice of two doors, marked “belief” and “disbelief.” Whichever they choose sends them into a labyrinthian maze, which will “make your hearts beat faster… it may even make you want to die,” Mr. Reed says. “Do not be afraid. You will witness a miracle.” What you’ll witness in the trailer is both girls looking really scared, but that’s it. You’ll have to see the film to know what’s got them in such distress.

Heretic is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who wrote and executive produced A Quiet Place. Most recently, they wrote and directed the dinosaur sci-fi flick 65 starring Adam Driver. Now they’re joining the vaunted A24 horror roster, which includes movies like Pearl, X, Midsommar, Hereditary, The Witch, Talk To Me, and more.