Monthly Archives: September 2025

HERETIC (2024)

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HERETIC (2024)

The cover to the Australian Bluray

Religion has been a great source for horror films since the beginning of cinema itself. From Haxan to The Exorcist to Saint Maud, possession, demons, the devil and godly justice have been regular sources for religion to be inserted in the genre. Sometimes it’s seen favourable to religion and sometimes not, but even though as a society we seemingly become less religious, and those that are, becoming more diverse in their choice of religions, this type of horror still seems to be popular amongst the punters.

A lot of religious horror movies have a questioning of faith, or at the very least, a testing of, and this is probably where the popularity lies, as we as humans persistently question what we do, why we are doing it and what is actually ‘right’.

That testing of faith is exactly what Heretic is all about.

Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East)

Heretic tells of two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) who are in town to spread the word of the Lord, but have a specific objective to visit Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) who has enquired about the church.

Upon approaching the house, they are greeted by the man who promptly invites them in, assuring them that his wife is in the kitchen baking a pie for them to share and enjoy, and that she would be joining them later as she is shy around people she doesn’t know.

Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant)

The conversation immediately takes to the church and after a few difficult and awkward interactions, the girls realise that Mr. Reed may not be what he says he is, and that his interest in the church and even with God involve him challenging faith and the faithful, and may involve some experiments that he has been performing within his house… his house that has no phone reception, and time-locked doors, and difficult choices…

I thought this was a beautifully shot film with some amazing performances and one surprising one by Grant, who seems to be relishing the role, that may have been let down by a slightly soggy ending. Here’s the funny thing though: I don’t like it when people get really in depth on the ‘meaning’ behind a film and I find that usually I prefer a film to just entertain me based on what I see, and I don’t need subtext or whatever to further enjoy it… but this did made me stop and actually discuss the film with family and friends beyond my usual superficial viewing… which means I’m either getting older, smarter or more patient.

Time for a decision…

Either way, this film is great.

If I am to criticise the film at all, it is for a subplot with Topher Grace as an Elder of the church who is looking for the girls by retracing their steps which ends with a messy joke that I can’t figure out if it was a commentary of the church and its putting faith before the safety of its people, or if it was just a flippant moment to alleviate the tension, which to me, didn’t. It felt like a vaudevillian aside that if edited from the film, wouldn’t be missed.

Still, as I said, it is a small criticism of an other wise great film.

The menu screen for Heretic

Extras: There is only a director’s commentary on this disc by the directors and it’s a fascinating insight into the making of this film and their inspirations. I love commentaries that really unravel the thoughts behind the stories of films.

Film: 9/10

Extras: 7/10 (there’s only the commentary but it’s a solid one)

Rewatchability: 7/10

What is in Mr Reed’s basement?

This film was purchased from JB Hifi

ABIGAIL (2024)

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ABIGAIL (2024)

The Australian Bluray release

I used to be a massive purchased of horror movie magazines. Over the years I’ve bought all of them: Famous Monsters, Fangoria, Rue Morgue, The Dark Side, Fear, Samhain, Deep Red… far to many to list, and these mags were my window into films that formed a list of stuff I wanted to see.

Tragically, in 2025, magazines have become an unobtainable product. Rue Morgue and Fangoria are almost $30 each; that MORE that the price of some blurays, and there are so many sales on blurays it makes them REALLY. REALLY. Expensive. So, even though I am an avid supporter of physical media over streaming, streaming can have its place. For me, it’s where I see films that I may choose to purchase later… it’s an audition process for my physical media collecting process. This film, Abigail, I first saw on Netflix, and actively pursued it on home video.

Abigail was written by Steven Shields (The Hole in the Ground) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not), and was directed by the duo of Tyler Gillette and Matt Bettinelli-Olpen, from the production company Radio Silence, who were also responsible for the brilliant Ready or Not and Screams V and VI.

Melissa Barrera as Joey

Abigail tells the story of a crew, Joey (Melissa Barrera) the medic, Frank (Dan Stevens) the brains, Rickles (William Catlett) the look out, Sammy (Kathryn Newton) the hacker, Peter (Kevin Durand) the muscle and Dean (Angus Cloud) the driver, hired by a fixer named Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), to abduct a young girl named Abigail (Alisha Weir) for the reward of $7,000,000 each.

Giancarlo Esposito as Lambert

They have a problem though: Abigail is a vampire, and the gang are trapped in a house, with no phones and no internet. Can they survive, or will they turn on each other before Abigail can even get started on them.

Alisha Weir as Abigail

Normally in a review I’d try to resist spoiling main plot points, but Abigail’s secret is hardly a secret at all, especially when you consider that even the tagline suggests that ‘Children can be suck MONSTERS’. I must say I wish that I had not known the secret of the film and got the surprise that films like From Dusk til Dawn gave me. Normally I don’t care about spoiler but this would have been a nice but if fun.

This is essentially a modernised version of Dracula’s Daughter (1936), even giving the name ‘Lambert’ , the director of that film, to one of the characters. I don’t think I’ve seen the original so I can’t actually comment on any similarities but I can say that this film is a bunch of fun.

The actors playing the gang are so great in their roles, and the tension is palpable but the real highlight is Weir as Abigail. As a girl she’s fragile and delicate and after the reveal she is a scary as any monster in any monster movie, but without jingoistic catchphrases; she is just a deadly force to reckoned with dressed up in a 12 year old girl costume.

All in all, a fun film that, and this is contrary to almost everything I normally think, could be ripe for a sequel that pursues either Abigail’s lust for blood, or even Joey in her pursuit to destroy Abigail’s father… This was a marvellous film that proves that Radio Silence are amazing at what they do.

The Bluray menu screen

Extras: There’s a decent chunk of extras:

Deleted and Extended Scenes are, as is mostly true, better off not in the film. I still love that home video gives us the opportunity to see this stuff.

Gag Reel is, as usual, something that is probably more interesting for the cast and crew to reminisce on the fun days they had making the film. For us, it’s a curio, a distraction and little more.

Blood Bath takes a look at the amount of blood used in the filming of Abigail. I must admit that this is the generation of effects I really love: practical effects with just a touch of CGI to enhance it. The wonderful thing about this featurette is that everyone talks about how surprised by how much blood was used. Fantastic.

Hunters to Hunted looks at the design of the cast and how the directors fit them together, creating a world together.

Becoming a Ballerina Vampire is all about our titular beast, Abigail, and Alisha Weir who plays her so wonderfully.

Directing Duo Matt and Tyler unfortunately doesn’t discuss their history but does talk about the experience of making this film. I would have liked to have seen HOW two people direct a film together but as one would expect, it all relates to this film. My favourite line is that one of them says ‘we want to make movies WE like’ and I really LOVE that lack of cynicism.

Finally we have a commentary by Matt and Tyler, along with editor Michael P. Shawler, which doesn’t just talk about directorial decisions but also editorial choices. These people really love their jobs and it’s a great look at how important the roles are and how well Matt and Tyler work together.

Film: 7/10

Extras: 7/10

Rewatchability: 10/10

Head, you lose

This Bluray was purchased from JB Hifi