Heretic is a new horror hit but even eerie Hugh Grant couldn’t make it my favorite A24 movie of the year

Heretic didn’t quite reach the highs of another recent A24 movie

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When the first trailer forHereticwas released, it immediately went into mynew A24 movies I can’t wait to watch in 2024list. It’s easy to see why, and the trailers for thenew moviewere very intriguing indeed. Namely, everyone was talking about how it was nice to see Hugh Grant moving from his romantic comedy roots into something far more sinister.

The set-up forHereticis simple yet effective: Two young Mormon missionaries show up to the house of Mr Reed, who has apparently requested a visit to learn more about their faith. Unfortunately for them, they’ve walked into a horrifying trap that could cost them their sanity or even their lives. But despite the great concept and the fact it did turn out to be a very good movie, there’s another recent 2024 release that holds a special place in my heart. A movie that deserves its spot onour best Max movieslist, that’s for sure.

Why I Saw the TV Glow remains my favorite movie of the year

This is by no means me pitting movies against the other needlessly, but more of a celebration of whyI Saw The TV Glowhas had such an impact on me. It’s not a particularly unique take but I can count on one hand the amount of A24 movies I disliked, and it’s refreshing to see their output continuing to be as strong as it is.

For me,I Saw The TV Glowis perhaps A24’s greatest achievement to date. I love everything about it from the colour palette, the way it plays on fun cheesy 90s TV, the exploration of fandom and identity, everything about it is wonderful and I found myself completely transfixed. I’m not alone either, as my colleague Rowan Davies also thanked the movie for encouraging himto revisit his favorite Hulu show. Its impact simply cannot be ignored, it’s as terrifying as it is beautiful, it manages to mix both of these feelings into something really special.

I was curious whether or not anything would manage to knock this movie off my top spot, especially during the Halloween season. EvenThe Substance,which recently got a streaming release date,wasn’t enough to do it. I consider that to be the bestbodyhorror of the year though, it’s definitely earned that title! It’s been a strong year for horrors and yet Jane Schoenbrun’s brilliant movie has stayed firmly at my number one spot. Honestly, I’m impressed.

Is Heretic still worth watching?

Yes! Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. It scared me more than I expected it to, to the point where I did find myself jumping out of my skin at one moment in particular, so it’s a strong contender for thebest horror moviesof the year in my opinion. It’s just notthebest.

A lot of it is riding on Hugh Grant’s performance and I can confirm he doesseriousbad guy very well. Sure, we’ve seen him in more comedic villain roles likePaddington 2and theDungeons and Dragonsmovie, but I loved his venture into horror and I hope he does more like it. His character is this weird combination of obnoxious, charming and utterly frightening, to the point where you feel very uncomfortable watching him. Discomfort is definitely whatHereticis going for and it does it very well, forcing you to ask questions along the way.

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The best part about this is I’m actually recommending you watch both movies (I Saw The TV Glowis currently onMax), and I for one am thrilled we’re being treated to so many good, thought provoking horrors. Long may it continue.

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Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What’s on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.

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