Hugh Grant absolutely smashed this role! Best performance i've seen from him in years... what did you think of this movie? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Definitely a worthwhile movie, and one that needs to be seen on the big screen. Thought-provoking and entertaining, and I agree with you that you need to pay close attention to the dialogue and visual clues throughout the movie. Hugh Grant is terrific, and the girls were just as terrific in their performances. Clever writing, incredibly creepy set design and spare and subtle use of creepy music and sound effects make this one of greatest horror movies to come down the pike in decades.
@ 100 percent I watched this movie on my own and absolutely loved it I took my friends and they were just guessing the plot calling it a Reddit knockoff so glad I watched this masterpiece on my own some people just don’t get it
It was non memorable for me. I found it a tad boring. My boyfriend fell asleep in it 4 or 5 times. I’m glad Hugh is trying something different thought. He is so talented!
I just wish he hadn’t stabbed either of them. It would’ve been better if he had been a terrifying villain just by using his words like in the first half of the movie.
I also think if he hadn’t killed anyone it would have made the big reveal with the cages even more sinister, implying everyone always stays alive in that horrible state.
Originally when i saw the film i interpreted the ending as paxton escaping, with barnes actually resurrecting from the dead to save her and then visiting her again as the butterfly on her finger completely validating their faith and thus proving mr reed wrong. However, after viewing this video and reading other comments, i think ive been convinced that barnes was not resurrected and all 3 characters died in that basement. Paxton’s mind envisioned barnes saving her, and as she slowly faded to death she also imagined escaping with barnes visiting her as the butterfly. But, she died still a true believer and thus mr reed still lost/failed. I think this interpretation is more valid because it’s more realistic based off injury, the butterfly on her hand vanishes, and its snowing/frosty outside in her “escape” whilst it looked like summer or spring in the films beginning. Really liked the film, an actual original idea, all 3 actors were great, and it really kept me thinking about the end. Curious what others think
I like this interpretation! Not sure if you also noticed the shining white light behind Paxton when she “escaped” and walked through the snow. I think that was her passage to the afterlife. Then it shows the butterfly landing on her hand, signifying that she died.
I thought all three died with the one not saving her either. It’s bright day light when she leaves though they had come there in the late afternoon/early evening - I don’t think that many hours had passed…
When she finally escapes from the house she drops her phone in the snow and the camera pauses on it. Instead of the phone finally getting signal, even though the phone is outside it stays on "no signal" leading us to believe she didnt really escape. It is likely up to interpretation, but she could have died, or maybe she was living in a simulation reality like Hugh Grant said, that is why the butterfly gitched away after she saw it.
Absolutely loved this film! I went with my catholic mum and my atheist son and we had a fantastic debate on the way home afterwards 😂. So much to analyse and discuss and will leave you thinking about it long afterwards. The thinking man’s horror
As someone who stopped believing in religion as a whole, the movie really scratched the itch I had in the most satisfying way. Would love if my immediate family loved horror movies too, they’re religious and I would’ve loved for them to have watched it with me.
I agree, love horror films that rely more on plot and thought than actual gore. Realism rather than just pure fantasy. Not seeing the horror until it is too late.
I interpreted from the movie was that In the beginning, the sisters talked about converting people and how many they converted. I believe Mr. Reed was trying to convince them that there was a "true religion" and trying to convert them to what he thought was the "true religion" kind of what their religion does. Skipping to the part where Paxton is in the room with reeds and his "prophecies," Reed is asking her what true religion is, and she says control. Mr. Reed basically says that she made her own decisions throughout the whole situation, and she says that he basically controlled her decisions. I believe this is a way of saying how religion controls people and the decisions they make in life because, throughout the whole movie, Mr. Reed was trying to make them question their religion. Now, when it comes to the part when Paxton gets stabbed and ends up back in that hole with Mr. Reed, she tells him about that prayer study and how the outcome of the study was inconclusive. Even though Mr. Reed was about to kill her, she still stuck with her beliefs and started praying. I took this as her rejecting being converted and sticking to what she believed in, and never giving up on her faith. Then, when Barnes killed him before he could kill Paxton, I took this as Barnes being a "Prophecy" because Paxton was praying during this time, and this was a way of god telling her that he is listening to her prayers and to not give up on her faith. When it came to Paxton, seeing the butterfly on her hand then disappearing. I interpreted it as her beliefs still standing even after everything that happened because of what she said earlier in the movie about believing in the butterfly afterlife thing. It also seemed to give her a sense of comfort and relief, similar to what religion gives to people. To summarize, what I took away from it is that religion is always going to be around, and it will continue to change, but no matter what, stick to your beliefs instead of letting people control/convert what you believe in. It doesn't matter what you believe in, but sticking to what you believe in will help you at the end of it all and the decisions you make.
This is how I interpreted this movie as well! Yea Barnes didnt stay alive, she resurrected for a sec. (Well… staying alive for hours in that condition sounds like a miracle too but resurrection is more like it) I would have to disagreeon the last part tho. There are so many cults like scientology so get the heck out of wherever u at if u feel like this is crazy
He’s essentially playing God for his own sick fantasy. The discussion around polygamy brings to light why he has an all women army in the basement. He Uses religion as a conduit to manipulate vulnerable, religious women. Through his studies he figures that religion is the ultimate form of control. Notice how Barnes who had to be converted, watches porn, and fornicates (the contraception in her arm) is essentially one foot in and one foot out. She’s a believer, but not a strong believer in her own faith. She comes off difficult to manipulate compared to Paxton who is naive, non confrontational, refuses to challenge Reed, not to mention she was born into Mormonism. Reed knew he was going to kill Barnes and keep Paxton as a “prophet”. The whole “miracle” bit was a plan that has worked for him in the past, but with the lady going off script and saying “it’s not real” put a wrench in things. He’s fooled others in the past because they saw it to be a miracle, assumed he was God and joined his cult. He would kill off anyone who didn’t believe or who pulled his card. Him saying he does this because they allow him to is the overall point. Do you believe something just because someone tells it to you. He’s a control freak who found a way to cheap way to kidnap women.
Barnes figured it out at the beginning. She said that Reed wanted them to believe they seek death voluntarily by believing in his “miracle” and joining his religion.
I just came back from seeing it and I absolutely agree with everything you stated here. This surely has to be a career-best turn from Hugh Grant too?! Sophie Thatcher was also the other stand out, although all three main leads were excellent.
I've seen it yesterday and I want to watch it again. Like you mentioned, one has to be really focused on what's been said. Hugh Grant was terrific and terrifying. I loved him as a bad guy in Gentlemen and Undoing but this was that kind of charming villain you can't really tell how evil he is until it's too late. He played it so well with every fibre of his being. Ladies played their roles outstandingly well too.
I liked this film and enjoyed most of it, but the way the light hair girl suddenly became so clever like Miss Marple and figured everything out on her first attempt didn't work for me. Even worse than that was how the dark hair girl remained alive after her throat was slit and Mr Read and her friend were not aware of that was completely ridiculous. Sorry.
The dark haired girl did die, as did the other girl, suggested by the vanishing butterfly. The other girl was a true believer, whilst the dark haired girl was not. The situation revealed or drew out another side to her perhaps.
She didnt become clever. She was always clever but a very good person who doesn't expect bad even if she notices things. She just added things she noticed and said ok what I though was real. Some aspects of this movie is genius.
He didn't look scared (of what might or might no come next) when he crawled over to her at the very end, he looked sad, in need of comfort, a final hug.
The girls shouldn't have gone down to the basement. They should've stalled for time in the living room until someone from their church turned up and the deadbolt door was opened before the next morning. Boring, I know, but that's what I kept thinking. Lol
@nicolewanamaker1842 Yeah, I know. Deep down, so did the girls. But for some reason, they decided to indulge him and play his game. They should've gone back to the front room and waited it out. Worst case scenario, the 2 of them would have to overpower him and smash the front door down.
I want to preface this comment by sharing that I have no strong ties to any particular religion, nor would I call myself an atheist by any means. *Spoilers* That being said… If he believed what he said, about the “one true religion,” and that by exerting control over the “prophets” was what they yearned for, then that would effectively make him the “god” of that religion in his mind, right? So in that sense, his house becomes a literal house of his “godhood,” within which he believes he’s enacting the torment on his worshippers as a he sees the wrathful gods of monotheistic religions have done. An alternative reading is that he’s the literal devil, coercing those of weak faith to his side before trapping them in a figurative “eternal suffering,” for as long as they live. Because he says that the “prophets” come to him, it creates a sense that he is doing this because he believes that is what Gods do and how Gods treat their worshippers. Thus, him being the devil in a figurative or literal sense, seems plausible, no?
I thought of him as the devil, yes. The image of the Elder leaving, in the snow under the glow of the street lamp, reminded me of the Exorcist, as an aside.
The way I interpret the ending : Paxton didn't die. God actually answered her prayer and saved her life through her friend Barnes, who was either resurrected at that moment or was still alive. The butterfly that landed on Paxton's hand was the soul of her friend Barnes. The fact that it appeared in the cold and the snow was a miracle, showing her that her faith was not in vain.
I thought that, too! I like to think she found help and those poor women were rescued from the cages in the basement. As for the phone, it takes a while for reception to come back to the phone when you're in a place that doesn't allow it. He could have cut her stomach like a surgeon and could have gone deeper than what he did. God answers prayers in ways we like and some times in ways we don't like, but He has reasons for how He answers.
Ah, the point about the butterfly at the end is that it DISappeared. It was her faith, and it disappeared. After having come face to face with the true essence of religion: control and power, she could no longer be religious.
For the butterfly ending, in order to believe in reincarnation you’d have to believe in life after death, the butterfly then disappears, implying she no longer believes in her faith.
The butterfly ending was in reference to her belief… she said at one point she would come back and land on peoples finger to let them know it’s them. Well when Barnes saves her then dies she does the butterfly thing to assure her life after death is real. Belief restored…
Effectively disturbing and shocking at times, Heretic pulls the strings on what faith and resurrection is with the power of Hugh Grant's brilliant acting and wit.
Just got done watching this in the DMax seats, lil self date after not being in a theater forever. Your review on this movie is spot on. soundtrack was good, just wish it was incorporated into the chairs a bit more through out the movie but, it is a great movie i.m.o. The 360 spin view of the living room while in conversation, and the iteration part with religion, music, & monopoly was really well put together.
Loved this film, and agree with the review. Unless I missed something, I did think it a bit odd that Mr Reed didn't notice the Sisters picking up the letter opener, given his very close attention to detail throughout the film up until that point.. otherwise brilliant film.
He knew they had the letter opener. He heard what the plan was, which is why he slashed Sister Barnes' throat when she said the code word. He just 'believed' he could more easily control Sister Paxton and the whole film is about how one's beliefs can bite them in the ass lol.
He left it there on purpose or he had some kind of Short term memory loss. We know he is mentally ill, so it follows he either did it on purpose or forgot because of either some form of DID or maybe his OCPD. He definitely has OCPD, I think as well. Won’t be shocked to find out this film is a metaphor for mental illness also.
I watched this movie yesterday in Yuma, and it stuck with me afterward while I went shopping for household goods. Then, in the parking lot, it suddenly struck me that Mr. Reed is a polygamist, which ties in to things he'd said to the two Sisters about their church's history. --
@@jmz2144Yes, they are effectively his wives. But he is a sadist, so he demonstrated that by cutting off the finger, or that is how I took that scene, demonstrating what he thought was his total control over his wives.
I like this movie. I’m quite religious, and at first I thought it was kinda like God’s Not Dead but reversed (I hate those movies, lol), but my wife and I talked about the movie afterward and had great fun analyzing it. It actually has some really interesting commentary regarding absolute cynicism and absolute naivety, the spectrum in between, and the manner of how religion is now viewed in modernity. I think the subheader-question everything-is a good guide to how to approach the movie thematically. This includes the villain, who essentially presents himself as a foul priest of sorts.
I’m curious did you have any crisis of faith after seeing this? Or does the statement about the power of prayer being about an emotional support of each other hold you in good stead??
@@ObsessiveGeek Speaking as a religious Catholic, only a person of weak faith would have a crisis of faith after watching this movie. If Mr Reed had trapped a very holy Catholic or Orthodox person - think someone like Mother Teresa, or Maximillian Kolbe - they would simply sit there and pray continually, offering up their sufferings for the conversion of Mr Reed. History is full of Catholics and Orthodox being tortured for their faith - look up the Pitesti prison for one of the worst examples - where more horrible things were done to them to break them of their faith, yet they persevered until death. Even the Protestants are capable of this as shown during the Spanish Inquisition and the French persecution of the Huguenots. Also, Mr Reed has a child's understanding of religion. A non-religious person will think of life inside a convent as an example of control, but a Catholic woman who has a true vocation to religious life will find it very freeing. I am sure that most truly religious people, people who truly believe, will understand what I mean.
@krdiaz8026 I was referring specifically to the overall theme of iteration, even memory itself comes under fire to this. Our recall of an event is a recounting of those events rather than what actually transpired, each time we tell the story we are recounting the previous telling of the event and therefore diluting it further and further. All this before ever putting a memory into a text account, which is then rewritten and translated and rewritten again over and over and over. Can you truly trust the text you have read as “the one truth” knowing this and knowing the many, many, many accounts of what has now been referred to as “The Heroes Journey”? It’s curious you only focused on the torture and the base line of “control” aka indoctrination - his criticism is quite adept in that why does any religious institution require “salespeople” to convince others to join, or that a deity who sets out in judgment of people who are being true to themselves (how they were created to be) is a force of goodness. The film asks a lot of very powerful questions, to dismiss it so easily as “childish” shows a complete disregard of what was presented to you. Blind faith indeed.
@@ObsessiveGeek I simply answered the question of whether this movie necesssrily results in a crisis of faith. You seem to assume it does, and if it did not the person did not understand it. We can watch something like this, understand it, and still be religious afterwards.
I get the criticism of religion as "blind faith", and yet I think the criticism extends way wider: What is good or bad? Are human rights a delusion? What is even real (metafictionally)?
I would argue that seeing it in the theater really does add to the experience, so I would mostly certainly take the time to see it in the theater if you can.
The premise of this movie was so interesting and I was so looking forward to watching it. While the performances were top notch, the execution was poor and have too many un answered questions . The movie was disappointing in my opinion.
My friends and I saw this movie last night and one of my friends analyzed this. because the mans walls where made of metal or steel or forgot, this created a vortex and my friends believed that the only reason the girl was able to be resurrected was because she was in a different realm/ vortex while the missionary who got stabbed actually died because she wasn't in the second part of the dungeon in which the vortex was.
It brought up a great thought of how religion evolved over time and how is all seems like an interconnected web of chinese whispers (i dont know what the universal game is called but thats what my country call it)
I was holding my breath at the last scene, waiting for the credits to roll and to have Lana Del Reys "Get Free" to play. LET DOWN. Key moment during the film: they played "air that I breathe " and "creep" Grant's character refers to "Get Free" as the 3rd iteration and the film never plays it. Still an amazing film but certainly a lost opportunity to play an iteration foreshadowed earlier
I thought Hugh Grant was supreme in this movie. It did start out a little slow but I was quickly intrigued with the suspense. The girls played great parts also. One very naive and the other one very strong willed. Hugh Grant was also fantastic in the series “The English Scandal”. GReat actor.
Did anyone here see Hugh grant in "the gentleman?". He plays a sort of bad guy that you love to dislike with own brand of humor and cheekiness, he was the glue in that movie 😂 Oh this movie was good too though lol.
Thanks for the insight. I will go with Paxtons prayers were answered in the end, and Barnes was resurrected to save her, and the butterfly was Barnes saying goodbye from the other side ; however, its finely balanced, as to what interpretation one might make ;but in each case, the existence of heaven and god is proven, by way of her prayers being answered or that she crosses into the after life, and so, Mr. Reed loses, either way ; he is proven wrong. I thought it was clever how the film teased us with the church elder, when it seemed he might have intervened to save them, but didn'; in fact his return to the front door to give Reed the Mormon booklet was proof that Mr Reeds deception had truly worked. It was painful that the safety of their Mormon community, so close by, was unable to help. One other detail was the photo of Mr Reed as a younger man, seemingly happy with a dog. Firstly, its clearly odd that its the only photo of him, and begs the question, where's his wife, other family and people from other parts of his life. Was the ominous photo also a touchstone of Mr. Reed, in a happier more saner time, before his descent into madness. We are to later learn. of course, that the people in his life are all in cages.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼Just leaving the parking lot after watching the movie on a Sunday morning at STAR Cinema in Richmond, Texas -- THE ending made me cry!!n GOD IS GOOD!!!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Did he want to be killed? If not, why leave the obvious weapon (the letter opener) in plain sight, and not check to see if it was there when the young women went down into the basement?
Perhaps he'd done it before? As in he'd started his control/plan when he had expressed an interest in it and knew how it would play out. That someone would come looking. Maybe he was involved in the local Mormon church already. And even if no one did come looking for them, the two girls would hope that someone would, so he could easily fake the door bell to make them believe it really was someone from the church. For all they know in the film, none of it was real anyway.
@@alanwaine4186I think he was playing it as it came, hence his manoeuvering of the piece on his model of the house. Much like monopoly, you can't predict the ending, but you can manipulate overall in game to give yourself a prediction ahead of time. It's also like chess in that there's no guarantee of the win, but if you control the board, you can predict your opponents next move.
@@AfroGaz71 Exactly. At one point I can't remember which but one of the young women even says she's not sure if their playing a game of chess or checkers.
Thought it would be worth commenting as I saw this posted on Reddit and numerous other film forum type places. It's being reported and or at least rumoured that there's two endings circulating. One where Mr Reed lives despite being wounded / the girl gets out the window. In the Cinema which I just got back from, I got the ending where the girl climbs out the window. Did anyone get the ending where Mr Reed lives like others have "claimed" This is very confusing as to why (if true) the two endings are in circulation for the theatrical release.
They setup up the whole male missionary character just to justify how the dead body was moved. Seemed quite ridiculous. Also quite ridiculous how the blonde immediately knew everything that Hugh Grant was doing and trying to convey once the black haired girl died. It also seemed strange that they tried to setup Hugh Grant’s character as extremely meticulous, even planning to move the body when the doorbell was rang. But then he couldn’t account for leaving a knife on the ground, having wood with nails in the basement, his prophets not going through with his script, etc.
The silly term "magic underwear" belies their actual hideous meaning. In their temples with a pentagram on the front, Mormons must endure a bizarre occultic ritual where they are warned that they will "suffer their life to be taken" if they betray The Organization. There are "marks" on these garments which symbolize that their hearts will be cut out and their bowels torn out" if they betray Mormon secrets! The garments have occultic symbols on the heart, naval, and knee to make them remember this Blood Oath. Its like joining the Mafia--- Mormons submit submissively to their leaders with an Oath of Silence. Mormons are also commanded to put on a green apron symbolic of Satan's power and precepts! One ex-Mormon hid a camera on him and recorded this bizarre ceremony, which has been on the internet.
@@Dinosreviews Yes. He thought Sister Paxton to be the weaker minded of the two because she was so willing earlier on to claim she was no longer a believer and that he could manipulate her actions.
The key point this review seems to be missing is the symbolism behind the woman coming back to life and killing the man. Earlier in the film, the man tries to deceive her by saying he believes life is just a simulation, implying that once she’s dead, she won’t return because, as part of this “simulation,” she’s merely a disposable figure. He’s using this argument as a manipulation tactic, not because he genuinely believes it. However, when she does come back to life, it’s a symbolic moment. Her return challenges his claim, confronting him with the unsettling possibility that he could be wrong about the nature of existence. Her revival suggests that, even if he dismisses the idea of an afterlife or the possibility of existing within a simulation, there’s no certainty in his assumptions. The film is, in essence, “calling him out” and quite literally “smacking him in the head by showing that he doesn’t hold the ultimate truth. So, her resurrection isn’t just a plot twist, -it’s a reminder that we don’t truly know what lies beyond life or the nature of reality itself. He could have been wrong.
I don't think he took her faith away, not entirely at least. He turned her into a skeptic rather than a blind follower. That's why she does see the butterfly but then it disappears.
@@ObsessiveGeek I hear you, but I cant think there aint an answer to it all. " This " is all not an accident. I like the famous Polymath, Leibnitz - he discovered Calculus - and his thinking when he argued that for all of this realm to exist, something beyond the whole space time continuum has to exist . as the starting point, in another realm we don't understand. Call that something God, or what ever you want. I suppose its a place holder, and perhaps the how and the why is not be known. You'll just have ideas that can be neither proven or disproven. That aside, I'm a Christian and the virtue and morality, the support I get from attending church, and the beautiful art and calming lessons, are all undeniable.
@SIERRATREES Needing to make sense of something that is infinite is a very human idea. Our known reality is beyond vast. We are barely even an microscopic dot in the masses of celestial matter. Beyond this, our known reality is simply what we can observe, it doesn't "end" and it has no beginning. Adding a deity to help explain a "beginning" answers nothing, where did the deity come from? It's the exact same Chicken or Egg problem rephrased into a nice bedtime story to make you feel better about something incomprehensible.
I wish this movie waa more supernatural. Also how did all those women get down into his house. Wouldnt there be missing person posters. Overall it was a fun movie.
After watching daughters of the cult and under the banner of heaven, it’s weird seeing Mormons as the victims for a change. Often or not, they are seen as the evil. That aside, I loved the movie when they’re on the top level and discussing things at great length but it starts to get boring as they work their way through out the house. Hugh Grant should play more roles like this though as he absolutely nailed this. The two females involved were outstanding as well.
It's the best thing grant has ever been in,the undoing would be his other best effort. You said this film is difficult to follow! That's absolutely not correct 👎🏻 it's simplicity is one of the things i loved about it it kept me glued to it all the way through and unlike so many films that are made these days this was so easy to follow. It was absolutely brilliant 😮
Paxton's hand is decaying after the butterfly disappears so its safe to say she didn't make it and they all perished, not you typical horror movie ending and that's why I love it. Awesome film, best A24 in my opinion. Talk to Me 2022 definitely the worst of A24.
When i went to the cinema, in the room they were only 9 people in the room, me and my bf included. So i can say it was poor, its supposed to be based upon interpretation. But i don't think it worked. Sure it gives you some fundementals upon religion, in my case it awnser some doubts. Everyone did a good acting job. But i have to give it a 3 out 5 becuase i had potential. Its all i'm saying
That’s the thing, he says even memories play out like this. If there’s even a glimmer of doubt about the reality of the situation she will begin to “remember” the details that fit according her inner narrative - rather than a traumatic experience it slowly becomes a source of enlightenment. This the foundation of all religion, it’s the small comforts we tell ourselves
The movie needed to be an hour longer. I can’t help but feel like the ending was a little bit too underwhelming. Expectations were met, tone wise, and the cleverness of the script made it intriguing and mysterious, but it wasn’t enough. A24 usually ends their horror/thriller movies with a very shocking, dark, gut wrenching twist but this one was too subtle. Great movie though. Got me thinking.
I think it is a dark, gut wrenching twist for the protagonist. She speaks of hoping to come back as a butterfly, having faith in an afterlife or reincarnation. The entire film talks about the idea of near death and how our minds use what we have learned and believe to create our idea of “heaven” or peace at death. By showing the butterfly on Paxton’s hand, it shows that she doesn’t have faith anymore. I also take it that she bled out on the floor with Hugh Grant and then hallucinated, like those with near-death experiences, her saving by Barnes and escape from the house. That is pretty tragic for a girl who was a victim of an oppressive and controlling religion. She eventually died because the ideas she didn’t even fully believe in told her to be somewhere and do something: spread the Book of Mormon.
I don't think Sister Paxton died and went into the afterlife. The movie made a major point out of not being supernatural. What happens at the end with the disappearing butterfly is that she loses her faith. Realizing that religion is only about manipulation and power.
"It's left to us to interpret the ending" - Yeah no. I'm done with writers/directors doing this. "Oh aren't we so trendy!" No, I don't want to have a damn discussion about your movie's ending.
Its interesting that Jesus is thought of someone who is just being repeated from story to story, yet when the due diligence is done, Jesus is nothing like the rest.
It would probably be a good idea to have the review before the spoilers and ending explained because people that are watching probably have already seen the movie. So giving us your opinion on whether or not we should see it, isn't necessarily helpful
I just got out of watching it and I found it delightfully twisted, the trailer surprisingly didn’t give too much away, it’s pretty clever, hilarious, psychologically brilliant and has a new spin on the genre that’s kind of original with of course Hugh Grant’s amazing performance who’s just perfect!, not one of the best A24 horrors but one that I had a fun time watching from beginning to end.
A man had a similar discussion with me that said an Egyptian god had a similar story as Jesus so looked it up. The god was torn into pieces and thrown into the Nile where a Crocs ate his manhood so his father put him back together and made him a man hood made of gold but it actually reminded me me of the story of the nephilm or giants who had a civil war and where then wiped out by the flood and couldn't reproduce or crossbreed with humans. But in the end times would come back through technology some type of genetic cloning or manipulation
I kinda agree what mr.Reed says but here is the thing, morality is also a way to control people,so people should give up on morality ? And religion sure contributed to a certain thing ,for example in china,those village who believed in Christ don't do child/women trafficking so is religion that bad after all ?
Christianity had done some terrible things throughout its history I’d say most current followers especially here in the United States lack basic human morals But want to control everyone around them Especially those who don’t believe or are slightly different.
A lot of people use religion as a means of child/ex trafficking. It’s not about giving up religion, more about challenging the things you were told as opposed to blindly believing them
@@Amy-iz8vqam I ‘blindly believing’ that stealing is wrong if I understand what it’s like to be stolen from? Morally, I wouldn’t do that to a person bc of my own thoughts, not bc ‘i don’t really know what stealing is and how it hurts people but someone said once it’s bad so it’s bad’. And once again, no one is speaking of abandoning religion.
At first the movie has a viewers sharing positive comments and them i watch! its ok not quite interested but few minutes i stock in my chair and so focus on the story. Anyways there are two ending depends on the movie earns. If the movie earns BIG, we have part 2 and she live and if not, them the movie end and they all die.
The movie does not explain all the things we see in the movie. There's a lot of questions that are unanswered in the movie doesn't make sense I can promise you if there's a part two I will not watch it. There's a lot of questions I don't understand like what was the little 3D model on his desk that he was carving wooden creatures for and then all the sudden we saw the two Mormon girls walking up the stairs micro-sized on that little platform not to mention the fact that all of the Mind Games he played with them and what was the reason why and why did he have all these people caged in his house it just the movie doesn't make sense !
It's a movie. But, I have been a missionary for the church and I can tell you that coming across a guy like this dude would've sent off bad vibes from the start in the real world. Real sister missionaries would be creeped out and would'nt want to go back. Also, there is a rule that sister missionaries can't visit with a single male unless there's at least three sisters. This is for safety reasons based on 180 years of experience trying to teach people in their homes. There's always weirdos out there but you can't tell who they are until you get close enough to see the red flags pop up.
@ObsessiveGeek I wouldn't know where to begin; first of all, in the real world people who chose to serve missions do so because they have testimonies that the church is true. They know it is. This is because of the influence of the holy ghost which testifies to the individual what is true. It is impossible to "do" missionary work successfully without the presence of the holy ghost because it is what testifies the truth on the heart and soul of the honest seeker. The film wants to show the inefficacy of relying on impressions to believe in something. This is why they present the guy as something he's not, trying to underly the message the missionaries are just dumb suckers.
@@kimballbenson8116 I am not asking about the missionaries, only him. I feel it’s delusional to believe that a person cannot be suckered simply because they have faith, I also did not get the impression the two girls were dumb whatsoever. So again I ask what did HE do that would’ve told you he was untrustworthy? I don’t think he did anything out of the ordinary, he showed genuine interest and seemed friendly and welcoming. I feel like most would easily step into that home without further question. It’s simply retrospectively knowing he was lying you see through the act.
But, no surprise here, hollywood could never understand the fact that the holy ghost warns of falsehood and deception to those worthy of it's influence. The guy in the film proves to be an evil character utterly devoid of something like the Lord's spirit and real life missionaries would feel this right off the bat; consider the fact that lds missionaries serve in the field approximately 22 months and that means being exposed to an awful lot of atmospheres within many, many homes. With that experience, it doesn't take long to get a sense of what home life is like within a given place and if they met a dude who had dark evil intentions, was lying right to their faces ( non existent wife cooking blueberry pie in the kitchen ) shows them a worn out Book of Mormon sporting signs of fanatical annotations they'd want to jam out of there fast. They probably wouldn't even want to go in.
@kimballbenson8116 Again highly delusional to suggest a human cannot make mistakes, regardless how much faith or holy spirit influences their decisions. You are suggesting that missionaries targeted by criminals and killers were somehow lacking in faith. It also goes against the foundation of what you believe in to cast judgment on others who have not shown any malicious intentions.
@ Live in Utah (not Mormon), but can’t get away from learning about their religion. I’ve read the King James Bible, and the BOM and there are too many similarities to ignore.
Hugh Grant absolutely smashed this role! Best performance i've seen from him in years... what did you think of this movie? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
He better win an Oscar I don’t know if this is a thing but this is the first time someone talking made me afraid and think
Definitely a worthwhile movie, and one that needs to be seen on the big screen. Thought-provoking and entertaining, and I agree with you that you need to pay close attention to the dialogue and visual clues throughout the movie. Hugh Grant is terrific, and the girls were just as terrific in their performances. Clever writing, incredibly creepy set design and spare and subtle use of creepy music and sound effects make this one of greatest horror movies to come down the pike in decades.
@ 100 percent I watched this movie on my own and absolutely loved it I took my friends and they were just guessing the plot calling it a Reddit knockoff so glad I watched this masterpiece on my own some people just don’t get it
It was non memorable for me. I found it a tad boring. My boyfriend fell asleep in it 4 or 5 times. I’m glad Hugh is trying something different thought. He is so talented!
Well done. Religion really is about control. A classic example, you cannot have holy communion if you do not go to confession.
He killed Barnes because she would be less easily controlled. Paxton came across as someone who would easily be controlled.
Which begs the question, was Paxton's naive personality somewhat just an act she was putting on?
@@dawb86good point. Considering she had been watching porn, she may not be as innocent as she portrays
He only killed her because she said the secret word indicating the blonde girl to kill him so he killed her first
I like how in the beginning paxton looks so naive and clueless but ends up kinda bad ass.
@@dawb86it was all an act, remember she wrote on the phone “run?” She knew something was up
I just wish he hadn’t stabbed either of them. It would’ve been better if he had been a terrifying villain just by using his words like in the first half of the movie.
Totally agreed
Ya I agree. Oh well, it's what the director decided.. 🤷♀️
I also think if he hadn’t killed anyone it would have made the big reveal with the cages even more sinister, implying everyone always stays alive in that horrible state.
That’s what I said but it made sense on why he did it
I agree
The subversion of killing of Paxton who seemed as the protagonist as well as the one with knowledge to beat him was extremely refreshing
😂
I honestly thought she was going to die because they kept showing her more than the other girl.
You mean barnes?
Originally when i saw the film i interpreted the ending as paxton escaping, with barnes actually resurrecting from the dead to save her and then visiting her again as the butterfly on her finger completely validating their faith and thus proving mr reed wrong.
However, after viewing this video and reading other comments, i think ive been convinced that barnes was not resurrected and all 3 characters died in that basement. Paxton’s mind envisioned barnes saving her, and as she slowly faded to death she also imagined escaping with barnes visiting her as the butterfly. But, she died still a true believer and thus mr reed still lost/failed. I think this interpretation is more valid because it’s more realistic based off injury, the butterfly on her hand vanishes, and its snowing/frosty outside in her “escape” whilst it looked like summer or spring in the films beginning.
Really liked the film, an actual original idea, all 3 actors were great, and it really kept me thinking about the end. Curious what others think
I like this interpretation! Not sure if you also noticed the shining white light behind Paxton when she “escaped” and walked through the snow. I think that was her passage to the afterlife. Then it shows the butterfly landing on her hand, signifying that she died.
I thought all three died with the one not saving her either. It’s bright day light when she leaves though they had come there in the late afternoon/early evening - I don’t think that many hours had passed…
It looked like summer/spring? Bro it was snowing the whole night ofc there’d be snow on the ground in the morning
@ it was raining, not snowing, but it youre right it probably wasnt summer or they wouldnt have had jackets but it definitely wasnt winter either
@@MrBananaSamichit was snowing once the man from the church started looking for the girls
When she finally escapes from the house she drops her phone in the snow and the camera pauses on it. Instead of the phone finally getting signal, even though the phone is outside it stays on "no signal" leading us to believe she didnt really escape. It is likely up to interpretation, but she could have died, or maybe she was living in a simulation reality like Hugh Grant said, that is why the butterfly gitched away after she saw it.
I like this angle of interpretation
I did not notice that it said "no signal". I looked at the bars and they were moving, as if there was indeed a signal.
Absolutely loved this film! I went with my catholic mum and my atheist son and we had a fantastic debate on the way home afterwards 😂. So much to analyse and discuss and will leave you thinking about it long afterwards. The thinking man’s horror
When a movie provides a good debate and discussion you know it's been a good one!
@@BrainPilotYeah I’m definitely gonna show this to my grandparents and get their thoughts on the movie! They’re both COGIC!
As someone who stopped believing in religion as a whole, the movie really scratched the itch I had in the most satisfying way. Would love if my immediate family loved horror movies too, they’re religious and I would’ve loved for them to have watched it with me.
I agree, love horror films that rely more on plot and thought than actual gore. Realism rather than just pure fantasy. Not seeing the horror until it is too late.
If M Night Shymalan could still do M Night Shymalan
I interpreted from the movie was that
In the beginning, the sisters talked about converting people and how many they converted. I believe Mr. Reed was trying to convince them that there was a "true religion" and trying to convert them to what he thought was the "true religion" kind of what their religion does. Skipping to the part where Paxton is in the room with reeds and his "prophecies," Reed is asking her what true religion is, and she says control. Mr. Reed basically says that she made her own decisions throughout the whole situation, and she says that he basically controlled her decisions. I believe this is a way of saying how religion controls people and the decisions they make in life because, throughout the whole movie, Mr. Reed was trying to make them question their religion.
Now, when it comes to the part when Paxton gets stabbed and ends up back in that hole with Mr. Reed, she tells him about that prayer study and how the outcome of the study was inconclusive. Even though Mr. Reed was about to kill her, she still stuck with her beliefs and started praying. I took this as her rejecting being converted and sticking to what she believed in, and never giving up on her faith.
Then, when Barnes killed him before he could kill Paxton, I took this as Barnes being a "Prophecy" because Paxton was praying during this time, and this was a way of god telling her that he is listening to her prayers and to not give up on her faith.
When it came to Paxton, seeing the butterfly on her hand then disappearing. I interpreted it as her beliefs still standing even after everything that happened because of what she said earlier in the movie about believing in the butterfly afterlife thing. It also seemed to give her a sense of comfort and relief, similar to what religion gives to people.
To summarize, what I took away from it is that religion is always going to be around, and it will continue to change, but no matter what, stick to your beliefs instead of letting people control/convert what you believe in. It doesn't matter what you believe in, but sticking to what you believe in will help you at the end of it all and the decisions you make.
This is how I interpreted this movie as well! Yea Barnes didnt stay alive, she resurrected for a sec. (Well… staying alive for hours in that condition sounds like a miracle too but resurrection is more like it)
I would have to disagreeon the last part tho. There are so many cults like scientology so get the heck out of wherever u at if u feel like this is crazy
No, the disappearing butterfly was the evaporation of her faith! The whole point of the movie is anti-religious.
He’s essentially playing God for his own sick fantasy. The discussion around polygamy brings to light why he has an all women army in the basement. He Uses religion as a conduit to manipulate vulnerable, religious women. Through his studies he figures that religion is the ultimate form of control. Notice how Barnes who had to be converted, watches porn, and fornicates (the contraception in her arm) is essentially one foot in and one foot out. She’s a believer, but not a strong believer in her own faith.
She comes off difficult to manipulate compared to Paxton who is naive, non confrontational, refuses to challenge Reed, not to mention she was born into Mormonism. Reed knew he was going to kill Barnes and keep Paxton as a “prophet”. The whole “miracle” bit was a plan that has worked for him in the past, but with the lady going off script and saying “it’s not real” put a wrench in things. He’s fooled others in the past because they saw it to be a miracle, assumed he was God and joined his cult. He would kill off anyone who didn’t believe or who pulled his card.
Him saying he does this because they allow him to is the overall point. Do you believe something just because someone tells it to you. He’s a control freak who found a way to cheap way to kidnap women.
💯
Barnes figured it out at the beginning. She said that Reed wanted them to believe they seek death voluntarily by believing in his “miracle” and joining his religion.
I just came back from seeing it and I absolutely agree with everything you stated here. This surely has to be a career-best turn from Hugh Grant too?! Sophie Thatcher was also the other stand out, although all three main leads were excellent.
Glad you agreed!
I've seen it yesterday and I want to watch it again. Like you mentioned, one has to be really focused on what's been said. Hugh Grant was terrific and terrifying. I loved him as a bad guy in Gentlemen and Undoing but this was that kind of charming villain you can't really tell how evil he is until it's too late. He played it so well with every fibre of his being. Ladies played their roles outstandingly well too.
Yeah it was such a good movie!
I liked this film and enjoyed most of it, but the way the light hair girl suddenly became so clever like Miss Marple and figured everything out on her first attempt didn't work for me. Even worse than that was how the dark hair girl remained alive after her throat was slit and Mr Read and her friend were not aware of that was completely ridiculous. Sorry.
I agree
The dark haired girl did die, as did the other girl, suggested by the vanishing butterfly. The other girl was a true believer, whilst the dark haired girl was not. The situation revealed or drew out another side to her perhaps.
Agree with both points
It's a point of ambiguity that the dark haired girl was even alive, and it was just what the dying girl was seeing as she was passing away.
She didnt become clever. She was always clever but a very good person who doesn't expect bad even if she notices things. She just added things she noticed and said ok what I though was real. Some aspects of this movie is genius.
He didn't look scared (of what might or might no come next) when he crawled over to her at the very end, he looked sad, in need of comfort, a final hug.
But he was bringing his knife.
The girls shouldn't have gone down to the basement. They should've stalled for time in the living room until someone from their church turned up and the deadbolt door was opened before the next morning. Boring, I know, but that's what I kept thinking. Lol
Well then there would be no story line for the movie would there. Or in fact the movie wouldn't exist
He was lying the door could be unlocked at any time. It was rigged.
I said the same. In the room with 2 doors, it makes the most sense to fight for their lives at that point.
@nicolewanamaker1842 Yeah, I know. Deep down, so did the girls. But for some reason, they decided to indulge him and play his game. They should've gone back to the front room and waited it out. Worst case scenario, the 2 of them would have to overpower him and smash the front door down.
@@alikucuk928 precisely 😂
This was such a good movie ❤ I love the religious philosophical aspects of it
I want to preface this comment by sharing that I have no strong ties to any particular religion, nor would I call myself an atheist by any means. *Spoilers* That being said…
If he believed what he said, about the “one true religion,” and that by exerting control over the “prophets” was what they yearned for, then that would effectively make him the “god” of that religion in his mind, right? So in that sense, his house becomes a literal house of his “godhood,” within which he believes he’s enacting the torment on his worshippers as a he sees the wrathful gods of monotheistic religions have done.
An alternative reading is that he’s the literal devil, coercing those of weak faith to his side before trapping them in a figurative “eternal suffering,” for as long as they live. Because he says that the “prophets” come to him, it creates a sense that he is doing this because he believes that is what Gods do and how Gods treat their worshippers. Thus, him being the devil in a figurative or literal sense, seems plausible, no?
I thought of him as the devil, yes. The image of the Elder leaving, in the snow under the glow of the street lamp, reminded me of the Exorcist, as an aside.
The way I interpret the ending : Paxton didn't die. God actually answered her prayer and saved her life through her friend Barnes, who was either resurrected at that moment or was still alive. The butterfly that landed on Paxton's hand was the soul of her friend Barnes. The fact that it appeared in the cold and the snow was a miracle, showing her that her faith was not in vain.
I thought that, too! I like to think she found help and those poor women were rescued from the cages in the basement. As for the phone, it takes a while for reception to come back to the phone when you're in a place that doesn't allow it. He could have cut her stomach like a surgeon and could have gone deeper than what he did. God answers prayers in ways we like and some times in ways we don't like, but He has reasons for how He answers.
Same this is exactly how I interpreted it. Power of Jesus on screeen ! Yes you heard 🙏💪✝️
Ah, the point about the butterfly at the end is that it DISappeared. It was her faith, and it disappeared. After having come face to face with the true essence of religion: control and power, she could no longer be religious.
It's an excellent movie. Good analysis. Loved the ending
Thanks!
Had me listening to the Hollies real quick lol
Just saw it... enjoyed thoroughly. Very relevant philosophy lesson for the times we now face.
Yeah it's a really thought provoking movie
For the butterfly ending, in order to believe in reincarnation you’d have to believe in life after death, the butterfly then disappears, implying she no longer believes in her faith.
That's definitely a way of interpreting it!
Or that she's now at most agnostic....
Ahhhh I like this idea!!
The butterfly ending was in reference to her belief… she said at one point she would come back and land on peoples finger to let them know it’s them. Well when Barnes saves her then dies she does the butterfly thing to assure her life after death is real. Belief restored…
@ but the butterfly disappears
Effectively disturbing and shocking at times, Heretic pulls the strings on what faith and resurrection is with the power of Hugh Grant's brilliant acting and wit.
Just got done watching this in the DMax seats, lil self date after not being in a theater forever. Your review on this movie is spot on. soundtrack was good, just wish it was incorporated into the chairs a bit more through out the movie but, it is a great movie i.m.o. The 360 spin view of the living room while in conversation, and the iteration part with religion, music, & monopoly was really well put together.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Solo cinema dates are great, right!
@ I am not opposed to solo cinema dates !! 🤘
Loved this film, and agree with the review. Unless I missed something, I did think it a bit odd that Mr Reed didn't notice the Sisters picking up the letter opener, given his very close attention to detail throughout the film up until that point.. otherwise brilliant film.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I know what you mean but a lot of it was about 'predictions' and control, and I guess he couldn't control everything
He knew they had the letter opener. He heard what the plan was, which is why he slashed Sister Barnes' throat when she said the code word. He just 'believed' he could more easily control Sister Paxton and the whole film is about how one's beliefs can bite them in the ass lol.
He left it there on purpose or he had some kind of Short term memory loss. We know he is mentally ill, so it follows he either did it on purpose or forgot because of either some form of DID or maybe his OCPD. He definitely has OCPD, I think as well. Won’t be shocked to find out this film is a metaphor for mental illness also.
@@dawb86You are likely right.
Just seen it and I thought it was terrific 🎉 Hugh Grant is just incredible as are the two female actors. Highly recommend
Yeah the cast was really strong!
I watched this movie yesterday in Yuma, and it stuck with me afterward while I went shopping for household goods. Then, in the parking lot, it suddenly struck me that Mr. Reed is a polygamist, which ties in to things he'd said to the two Sisters about their church's history.
--
Agreed. A polygamist, a psychopath, and an abuser. That said, the vilification of atheists as immoral perverts is as old a trope as religion itself.
Did he make the women he kept captive as his wives?
He thinks he is Joseph Smith is his psychosis and part of whatever mental illness he is experiencing.
@@jmz2144Yes, they are effectively his wives. But he is a sadist, so he demonstrated that by cutting off the finger, or that is how I took that scene, demonstrating what he thought was his total control over his wives.
I like this movie.
I’m quite religious, and at first I thought it was kinda like God’s Not Dead but reversed (I hate those movies, lol), but my wife and I talked about the movie afterward and had great fun analyzing it. It actually has some really interesting commentary regarding absolute cynicism and absolute naivety, the spectrum in between, and the manner of how religion is now viewed in modernity.
I think the subheader-question everything-is a good guide to how to approach the movie thematically. This includes the villain, who essentially presents himself as a foul priest of sorts.
I’m curious did you have any crisis of faith after seeing this?
Or does the statement about the power of prayer being about an emotional support of each other hold you in good stead??
@@ObsessiveGeek Speaking as a religious Catholic, only a person of weak faith would have a crisis of faith after watching this movie. If Mr Reed had trapped a very holy Catholic or Orthodox person - think someone like Mother Teresa, or Maximillian Kolbe - they would simply sit there and pray continually, offering up their sufferings for the conversion of Mr Reed.
History is full of Catholics and Orthodox being tortured for their faith - look up the Pitesti prison for one of the worst examples - where more horrible things were done to them to break them of their faith, yet they persevered until death. Even the Protestants are capable of this as shown during the Spanish Inquisition and the French persecution of the Huguenots.
Also, Mr Reed has a child's understanding of religion. A non-religious person will think of life inside a convent as an example of control, but a Catholic woman who has a true vocation to religious life will find it very freeing. I am sure that most truly religious people, people who truly believe, will understand what I mean.
@krdiaz8026 I was referring specifically to the overall theme of iteration, even memory itself comes under fire to this.
Our recall of an event is a recounting of those events rather than what actually transpired, each time we tell the story we are recounting the previous telling of the event and therefore diluting it further and further.
All this before ever putting a memory into a text account, which is then rewritten and translated and rewritten again over and over and over.
Can you truly trust the text you have read as “the one truth” knowing this and knowing the many, many, many accounts of what has now been referred to as “The Heroes Journey”?
It’s curious you only focused on the torture and the base line of “control” aka indoctrination - his criticism is quite adept in that why does any religious institution require “salespeople” to convince others to join, or that a deity who sets out in judgment of people who are being true to themselves (how they were created to be) is a force of goodness.
The film asks a lot of very powerful questions, to dismiss it so easily as “childish” shows a complete disregard of what was presented to you.
Blind faith indeed.
@@krdiaz8026 seems the main theme of iteration went over your head then
@@ObsessiveGeek I simply answered the question of whether this movie necesssrily results in a crisis of faith. You seem to assume it does, and if it did not the person did not understand it. We can watch something like this, understand it, and still be religious afterwards.
Bob Ross Monopoly is REAL!
Magnums ARE bigger too! At least that's what I keep telling myself.
great vid mate. subbed
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video
I get the criticism of religion as "blind faith", and yet I think the criticism extends way wider: What is good or bad? Are human rights a delusion? What is even real (metafictionally)?
That fact Christianity is not respected is the fact they would love to have control of everyone and deny human rights!
I would argue that seeing it in the theater really does add to the experience, so I would mostly certainly take the time to see it in the theater if you can.
Wow, I didn’t even realize that about the ending! It feels open ended and I love that 🙏
Yeah it was a great ending for sure!
The premise of this movie was so interesting and I was so looking forward to watching it. While the performances were top notch, the execution was poor and have too many un answered questions . The movie was disappointing in my opinion.
My friends and I saw this movie last night and one of my friends analyzed this. because the mans walls where made of metal or steel or forgot, this created a vortex and my friends believed that the only reason the girl was able to be resurrected was because she was in a different realm/ vortex while the missionary who got stabbed actually died because she wasn't in the second part of the dungeon in which the vortex was.
It brought up a great thought of how religion evolved over time and how is all seems like an interconnected web of chinese whispers (i dont know what the universal game is called but thats what my country call it)
It's called 'the telephone game' in the US
It was a bit meh. The trailer gave me the impression the environment was going to be this huge, death trap labyrinth.
Yeah I thought that too, but I still thought it was complex enough!
I was holding my breath at the last scene, waiting for the credits to roll and to have Lana Del Reys "Get Free" to play. LET DOWN. Key moment during the film: they played "air that I breathe " and "creep" Grant's character refers to "Get Free" as the 3rd iteration and the film never plays it. Still an amazing film but certainly a lost opportunity to play an iteration foreshadowed earlier
Lana would never give rights.
I thought Hugh Grant was supreme in this movie. It did start out a little slow but I was quickly intrigued with the suspense. The girls played great parts also. One very naive and the other one very strong willed. Hugh Grant was also fantastic in the series “The English Scandal”. GReat actor.
Yeah Hugh Grants was awesome!
The villian is so me! Only that I don't kill or hurt anyone.
Plus I have a movie written with something similar
The point of the movie was to show that anti-religious people are creeps. Not all of them, but some of them.
Just got back from seeing this. Really enjoyed this film. Hugh Grant nailed his part
Did anyone here see Hugh grant in "the gentleman?". He plays a sort of bad guy that you love to dislike with own brand of humor and cheekiness, he was the glue in that movie 😂
Oh this movie was good too though lol.
True, kind of similar!
I interpreted the ending as the saviour girl either somehow living bleeding out or coming back to life to take out the heretic. Both a miracle of god
from where did u guys watch'
Great review. ❤
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the insight. I will go with Paxtons prayers were answered in the end, and Barnes was resurrected to save her, and the butterfly was Barnes saying goodbye from the other side ; however, its finely balanced, as to what interpretation one might make ;but in each case, the existence of heaven and god is proven, by way of her prayers being answered or that she crosses into the after life, and so, Mr. Reed loses, either way ; he is proven wrong. I thought it was clever how the film teased us with the church elder, when it seemed he might have intervened to save them, but didn'; in fact his return to the front door to give Reed the Mormon booklet was proof that Mr Reeds deception had truly worked. It was painful that the safety of their Mormon community, so close by, was unable to help. One other detail was the photo of Mr Reed as a younger man, seemingly happy with a dog. Firstly, its clearly odd that its the only photo of him, and begs the question, where's his wife, other family and people from other parts of his life. Was the ominous photo also a touchstone of Mr. Reed, in a happier more saner time, before his descent into madness. We are to later learn. of course, that the people in his life are all in cages.
Sameee power of Christ on screen ! ✝️
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼Just leaving the parking lot after watching the movie on a Sunday morning at STAR Cinema in Richmond, Texas -- THE ending made me cry!!n GOD IS GOOD!!!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
It was a good movie wasn't it!
@ it was BRILLIANT!!!! 🙏🏼❤️
Bro are you single do you get down with the trizy
Did he want to be killed? If not, why leave the obvious weapon (the letter opener) in plain sight, and not check to see if it was there when the young women went down into the basement?
How did he know the door bell would ring just after the prophet had eaten the pie?
Exactly ! His plan depended upon a distraction so that was convenient lol
Perhaps he'd done it before? As in he'd started his control/plan when he had expressed an interest in it and knew how it would play out. That someone would come looking. Maybe he was involved in the local Mormon church already. And even if no one did come looking for them, the two girls would hope that someone would, so he could easily fake the door bell to make them believe it really was someone from the church. For all they know in the film, none of it was real anyway.
@@alanwaine4186I think he was playing it as it came, hence his manoeuvering of the piece on his model of the house. Much like monopoly, you can't predict the ending, but you can manipulate overall in game to give yourself a prediction ahead of time.
It's also like chess in that there's no guarantee of the win, but if you control the board, you can predict your opponents next move.
@@AfroGaz71 Exactly. At one point I can't remember which but one of the young women even says she's not sure if their playing a game of chess or checkers.
He knew the church would come check his house and eventually distract the girls long enough for the switch to take place
Is this movie on streaming?
It debut in cinemas yesterday (31st October) so it will likely be a while before it reaches streaming platforms.
Cinemas at the moment!
Thought it would be worth commenting as I saw this posted on Reddit and numerous other film forum type places.
It's being reported and or at least rumoured that there's two endings circulating. One where Mr Reed lives despite being wounded / the girl gets out the window.
In the Cinema which I just got back from, I got the ending where the girl climbs out the window.
Did anyone get the ending where Mr Reed lives like others have "claimed"
This is very confusing as to why (if true) the two endings are in circulation for the theatrical release.
Just watched the movie and i saw where the mr. Reed dies and the girls clombs out the window.
Could be a director’s cut and theatrical release. The theatrical release is the main ending, the director’s cut the other ending.
They setup up the whole male missionary character just to justify how the dead body was moved. Seemed quite ridiculous. Also quite ridiculous how the blonde immediately knew everything that Hugh Grant was doing and trying to convey once the black haired girl died. It also seemed strange that they tried to setup Hugh Grant’s character as extremely meticulous, even planning to move the body when the doorbell was rang. But then he couldn’t account for leaving a knife on the ground, having wood with nails in the basement, his prophets not going through with his script, etc.
Why did Mr. Reed let himself be killed at the end? when he says "magic underwear"
Pretty sure he didn't know she had a weapon
The silly term "magic underwear" belies their actual hideous meaning. In their temples with a pentagram on the front, Mormons must endure a bizarre occultic ritual where they are warned that they will "suffer their life to be taken" if they betray The Organization. There are "marks" on these garments which symbolize that their hearts will be cut out and their bowels torn out" if they betray Mormon secrets! The garments have occultic symbols on the heart, naval, and knee to make them remember this Blood Oath. Its like joining the Mafia--- Mormons submit submissively to their leaders with an Oath of Silence. Mormons are also commanded to put on a green apron symbolic of Satan's power and precepts! One ex-Mormon hid a camera on him and recorded this bizarre ceremony, which has been on the internet.
He didn’t factor in that she would stab him. He thought that his control experiment had totally broken her like the other women in the cages.
@@Dinosreviews Yes. He thought Sister Paxton to be the weaker minded of the two because she was so willing earlier on to claim she was no longer a believer and that he could manipulate her actions.
@@DinosreviewsGood point, and his reasoning was sound because he got them to dumbly go into the basement already.
Deeply unsatisfying flick for anyone who’s spent more than half a moment thinking about theology.
The key point this review seems to be missing is the symbolism behind the woman coming back to life and killing the man.
Earlier in the film, the man tries to deceive her by saying he believes life is just a simulation, implying that once she’s dead, she won’t return because, as part of this “simulation,” she’s merely a disposable figure. He’s using this argument as a manipulation tactic, not because he genuinely believes it.
However, when she does come back to life, it’s a symbolic moment. Her return challenges his claim, confronting him with the unsettling possibility that he could be wrong about the nature of existence. Her revival suggests that, even if he dismisses the idea of an afterlife or the possibility of existing within a simulation, there’s no certainty in his assumptions. The film is, in essence, “calling him out” and quite literally “smacking him in the head by showing that he doesn’t hold the ultimate truth.
So, her resurrection isn’t just a plot twist, -it’s a reminder that we don’t truly know what lies beyond life or the nature of reality itself. He could have been wrong.
I don't think he took her faith away, not entirely at least. He turned her into a skeptic rather than a blind follower. That's why she does see the butterfly but then it disappears.
It’s best to believe in nothing as that’s as much as we know
Thats how I saw it, which was, Mr. Control religion being proven wrong.
@@ObsessiveGeek I hear you, but I cant think there aint an answer to it all. " This " is all not an accident. I like the famous Polymath, Leibnitz - he discovered Calculus - and his thinking when he argued that for all of this realm to exist, something beyond the whole space time continuum has to exist . as the starting point, in another realm we don't understand. Call that something God, or what ever you want. I suppose its a place holder, and perhaps the how and the why is not be known. You'll just have ideas that can be neither proven or disproven. That aside, I'm a Christian and the virtue and morality, the support I get from attending church, and the beautiful art and calming lessons, are all undeniable.
@SIERRATREES Needing to make sense of something that is infinite is a very human idea.
Our known reality is beyond vast. We are barely even an microscopic dot in the masses of celestial matter.
Beyond this, our known reality is simply what we can observe, it doesn't "end" and it has no beginning.
Adding a deity to help explain a "beginning" answers nothing, where did the deity come from?
It's the exact same Chicken or Egg problem rephrased into a nice bedtime story to make you feel better about something incomprehensible.
I wish this movie waa more supernatural. Also how did all those women get down into his house. Wouldnt there be missing person posters. Overall it was a fun movie.
It says November 8th release so idk how yall saw this already
Released early in uk
@ that’s
Ass
No cell phones in the after life: she survivedZ
After watching daughters of the cult and under the banner of heaven, it’s weird seeing Mormons as the victims for a change. Often or not, they are seen as the evil.
That aside, I loved the movie when they’re on the top level and discussing things at great length but it starts to get boring as they work their way through out the house.
Hugh Grant should play more roles like this though as he absolutely nailed this. The two females involved were outstanding as well.
It's the best thing grant has ever been in,the undoing would be his other best effort. You said this film is difficult to follow! That's absolutely not correct 👎🏻 it's simplicity is one of the things i loved about it it kept me glued to it all the way through and unlike so many films that are made these days this was so easy to follow. It was absolutely brilliant 😮
I wondered if the title should have been incredulous
Paxton's hand is decaying after the butterfly disappears so its safe to say she didn't make it and they all perished, not you typical horror movie ending and that's why I love it. Awesome film, best A24 in my opinion. Talk to Me 2022 definitely the worst of A24.
When i went to the cinema, in the room they were only 9 people in the room, me and my bf included. So i can say it was poor, its supposed to be based upon interpretation. But i don't think it worked. Sure it gives you some fundementals upon religion, in my case it awnser some doubts. Everyone did a good acting job. But i have to give it a 3 out 5 becuase i had potential. Its all i'm saying
Idk 🤷🏻♀️ if I should watch this move cause I love watching Hugh Grant as main characters in love movies 🎥 😆
It's really interesting seeing him in this type of role so it's definitely worth a watch!
I got something different. I felt that she saw a miracle and now is assured in her faith and witnessed, funnily, like he said they would.
That’s the thing, he says even memories play out like this.
If there’s even a glimmer of doubt about the reality of the situation she will begin to “remember” the details that fit according her inner narrative - rather than a traumatic experience it slowly becomes a source of enlightenment.
This the foundation of all religion, it’s the small comforts we tell ourselves
The movie needed to be an hour longer. I can’t help but feel like the ending was a little bit too underwhelming. Expectations were met, tone wise, and the cleverness of the script made it intriguing and mysterious, but it wasn’t enough. A24 usually ends their horror/thriller movies with a very shocking, dark, gut wrenching twist but this one was too subtle. Great movie though. Got me thinking.
Oh really? I thought it had quite a dark shocking ending!
I think it is a dark, gut wrenching twist for the protagonist. She speaks of hoping to come back as a butterfly, having faith in an afterlife or reincarnation. The entire film talks about the idea of near death and how our minds use what we have learned and believe to create our idea of “heaven” or peace at death. By showing the butterfly on Paxton’s hand, it shows that she doesn’t have faith anymore. I also take it that she bled out on the floor with Hugh Grant and then hallucinated, like those with near-death experiences, her saving by Barnes and escape from the house. That is pretty tragic for a girl who was a victim of an oppressive and controlling religion. She eventually died because the ideas she didn’t even fully believe in told her to be somewhere and do something: spread the Book of Mormon.
I don't think Sister Paxton died and went into the afterlife. The movie made a major point out of not being supernatural. What happens at the end with the disappearing butterfly is that she loses her faith. Realizing that religion is only about manipulation and power.
To me, the ending makes this film good. It is what makes the most sense for this movie.
The ending being that Grant's character was right - the true religion is CONTROL everything else is mental masturbation
Who knew Hugh Grant had this type of range I just thought of him as a goofy romcom guy
He was incredible as this!
You need to watch him in The Gentleman if you haven’t done so already. Very different character
"It's left to us to interpret the ending" - Yeah no. I'm done with writers/directors doing this. "Oh aren't we so trendy!" No, I don't want to have a damn discussion about your movie's ending.
Yeah, critical thinking suxs
Then watch transformers
I sometimes hate happy endings for the sake of happy endings.
It would have been interesting if he was not the real killer but swapped out and is gone but his body double died.
That would have been to be fair!
My theory is he may have had an accomplice.
I thouhht the actung was great but particularly the black haired sister. Very good performance.
Yeah the cast delivered really strong performances!
I enjoyed the movie
Its interesting that Jesus is thought of someone who is just being repeated from story to story, yet when the due diligence is done, Jesus is nothing like the rest.
One of the best films of 2024.
Totally agree!
Good movie.. but Christ is Lord!
It would probably be a good idea to have the review before the spoilers and ending explained because people that are watching probably have already seen the movie. So giving us your opinion on whether or not we should see it, isn't necessarily helpful
He looks like bill clinton
YES… SEE IT IN THEATERS!!!
I just got out of watching it and I found it delightfully twisted, the trailer surprisingly didn’t give too much away, it’s pretty clever, hilarious, psychologically brilliant and has a new spin on the genre that’s kind of original with of course Hugh Grant’s amazing performance who’s just perfect!, not one of the best A24 horrors but one that I had a fun time watching from beginning to end.
I like the overall message of religon which i belive to be true.
The most unrealistic part was the fact an Englishman made a pie that was fruit
Haha, steak and ale
Ending Explained: There is no explanation XD
Thank you soooo much for the explanation. Good one!
Glad it was helpful!
A man had a similar discussion with me that said an Egyptian god had a similar story as Jesus so looked it up. The god was torn into pieces and thrown into the Nile where a Crocs ate his manhood so his father put him back together and made him a man hood made of gold but it actually reminded me me of the story of the nephilm or giants who had a civil war and where then wiped out by the flood and couldn't reproduce or crossbreed with humans. But in the end times would come back through technology some type of genetic cloning or manipulation
@@Brent-z2s...Wow--and I thought only misogynistic Mormon males had a gold penis!
It was pretty good movie
Greatest movie ever made!!!!
It was a good, thought provoking movie for sure!
I kinda agree what mr.Reed says but here is the thing, morality is also a way to control people,so people should give up on morality ? And religion sure contributed to a certain thing ,for example in china,those village who believed in Christ don't do child/women trafficking so is religion that bad after all ?
Christianity had done some terrible things throughout its history
I’d say most current followers especially here in the United States lack basic human morals
But want to control everyone around them
Especially those who don’t believe or are slightly different.
A lot of people use religion as a means of child/ex trafficking. It’s not about giving up religion, more about challenging the things you were told as opposed to blindly believing them
@nicholebrown3694 ppl blindly believes in mortality as well so is that mean we shouldn't believe in morality ?
@nicholebrown3694 ppl blindly believes there are right and wrong in the world does that mean we are gonna abandon the sense of right and wrong as well
@@Amy-iz8vqam I ‘blindly believing’ that stealing is wrong if I understand what it’s like to be stolen from? Morally, I wouldn’t do that to a person bc of my own thoughts, not bc ‘i don’t really know what stealing is and how it hurts people but someone said once it’s bad so it’s bad’. And once again, no one is speaking of abandoning religion.
You forgot the butterfly dream
I was hoping to see grant challenged as an actor from his usual.stereotype but he wasnt! Just a polite serial killer 🤔😂
At first the movie has a viewers sharing positive comments and them i watch! its ok
not quite interested but few minutes i stock in my chair and so focus on the story. Anyways there are two ending depends on the movie earns. If the movie earns BIG, we have part 2 and she live and if not, them the movie end and they all die.
I saw it in Dolby vision it was good 😊
I bet that was an experience!
The end scene w the butterfly made me feel that the whole thing was a dream
The movie does not explain all the things we see in the movie. There's a lot of questions that are unanswered in the movie doesn't make sense I can promise you if there's a part two I will not watch it.
There's a lot of questions I don't understand like what was the little 3D model on his desk that he was carving wooden creatures for and then all the sudden we saw the two Mormon girls walking up the stairs micro-sized on that little platform not to mention the fact that all of the Mind Games he played with them and what was the reason why and why did he have all these people caged in his house it just the movie doesn't make sense !
❤he can do no wrong
He was great in this movie!
I still can't figure out if I liked this movie or not ))
I thought it was a real good one!
It's a movie. But, I have been a missionary for the church and I can tell you that coming across a guy like this dude would've sent off bad vibes from the start in the real world. Real sister missionaries would be creeped out and would'nt want to go back. Also, there is a rule that sister missionaries can't visit with a single male unless there's at least three sisters. This is for safety reasons based on 180 years of experience trying to teach people in their homes. There's always weirdos out there but you can't tell who they are until you get close enough to see the red flags pop up.
What red flags was he putting out before they entered his home?
@ObsessiveGeek I wouldn't know where to begin; first of all, in the real world people who chose to serve missions do so because they have testimonies that the church is true. They know it is. This is because of the influence of the holy ghost which testifies to the individual what is true. It is impossible to "do" missionary work successfully without the presence of the holy ghost because it is what testifies the truth on the heart and soul of the honest seeker. The film wants to show the inefficacy of relying on impressions to believe in something. This is why they present the guy as something he's not, trying to underly the message the missionaries are just dumb suckers.
@@kimballbenson8116 I am not asking about the missionaries, only him.
I feel it’s delusional to believe that a person cannot be suckered simply because they have faith, I also did not get the impression the two girls were dumb whatsoever.
So again I ask what did HE do that would’ve told you he was untrustworthy?
I don’t think he did anything out of the ordinary, he showed genuine interest and seemed friendly and welcoming. I feel like most would easily step into that home without further question.
It’s simply retrospectively knowing he was lying you see through the act.
But, no surprise here, hollywood could never understand the fact that the holy ghost warns of falsehood and deception to those worthy of it's influence. The guy in the film proves to be an evil character utterly devoid of something like the Lord's spirit and real life missionaries would feel this right off the bat; consider the fact that lds missionaries serve in the field approximately 22 months and that means being exposed to an awful lot of atmospheres within many, many homes. With that experience, it doesn't take long to get a sense of what home life is like within a given place and if they met a dude who had dark evil intentions, was lying right to their faces ( non existent wife cooking blueberry pie in the kitchen ) shows them a worn out Book of Mormon sporting signs of fanatical annotations they'd want to jam out of there fast. They probably wouldn't even want to go in.
@kimballbenson8116 Again highly delusional to suggest a human cannot make mistakes, regardless how much faith or holy spirit influences their decisions.
You are suggesting that missionaries targeted by criminals and killers were somehow lacking in faith.
It also goes against the foundation of what you believe in to cast judgment on others who have not shown any malicious intentions.
Ohhh in Cinemas!! I was losing my mind thought the release date wad Nov 8th OMG
Depends where you are! In the states I believe it's 8th November
Its not out in the U.S.😢
8th November I think!
1:33 FYI the Book of Mormon is nothing more than the King James Bible with some additional weird chapters in it.
lol…. No. Nephi quotes Isaiah in 2 Nephi because he loves his writings. Then there’s the entire rest of the book.
@ Live in Utah (not Mormon), but can’t get away from learning about their religion. I’ve read the King James Bible, and the BOM and there are too many similarities to ignore.
It’s still monopoly but the new Bob Ross edition