Warning! The following article reveals key plot details and the conclusion of “Heretic” (now showing in theaters), so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched it yet.

The thought-provoking horror film “Heretic” delves into themes of religion while subverting the traditional scary-villain and “final girl” narrative, culminating in an ending that invites contemplation after the movie concludes.

Penned and helmed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, “Heretic” follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sisters Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Paxton (Chloe East), who visit the seemingly nice Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) at his home. Mr. Reed welcomes them, claiming his wife is baking blueberry pie. However, there’s no wife or pie: Reed instead leads them to his study to challenge their faith, discussing the evolution of religions over the ages—using examples from rock music to the game’s history of “Monopoly”—and forces them to choose between doors labeled “Belief” or “Disbelief” in order to escape.

Opting for “Belief,” the missionaries soon discover that every exit in this horror-filled maze brings them to the same dark spot: a basement dungeon. Here, Reed unveils his twisted version of “the one true religion,” which involves domination over others, exemplified by a number of women he keeps captive for his sinister plans.

Hugh Grant’s villain in ‘Heretic’ meets a brutal end

Grant describes Reed’s most repugnant trait as his complete apathy towards the girls and women trapped in cages. Reed attempts to demonstrate a “miracle” for the weary Barnes and the unsuspecting Paxton, involving a hooded “prophet” who drinks poison only to be revived shortly after. The prophet recounts her afterlife experience. Barnes sees through the ruse and confronts Reed—only to have her throat cut. Meanwhile, Paxton uncovers that someone else replaced the first prophet after her demise. Notably, the so-called “resurrected” woman cryptically asserts, “It’s not real.”

Paxton ultimately finds her courage and retaliates, stabbing Reed in the neck with a letter opener for her chance to flee. Yet, when she returns to check on Barnes, Reed fatally wounds her in the stomach. Grant mentions filming two different versions of the scene where Reed crawls toward her, asking her to pray.

In the first, he maintains the persona of Mr. Reed throughout the film, thinking, “Isn’t this fun? Look at us now! We’re both hurt and dying. What’s next? How entertaining!” However, Grant decided it might be intriguing to explore a cooler ending where Reed expresses sheer terror about his impending death. The edited film chooses the latter approach, which, according to Grant, is subtle, as “he’s very scared.” During the climax, his head rests on her shoulder, sobbing, as his previous certitude about atheism shatters in the face of death.

Woods believes Reed, like everyone else, is deeply fearful of death. “Ultimately, searching for the one true religion is about finding comfort regarding our mortality. It’s seeking to alleviate our fear of dying: Is there more to existence, or is this it? It’s a profoundly frightening notion. Reed dedicated his life to unraveling that mystery. In his last moments, his fears and desperation drive him to seek a connection before it all potentially ends, which resonates as genuinely human.”

‘Heretic’ directors leave the ending open to audience interpretation

Just as Reed appears ready to deal a lethal blow to Paxton, the seemingly deceased Barnes rises and strikes Reed in the head with a board of nails. Though Barnes dies in the process, Paxton manages to escape. Outside, she witnesses a butterfly resting on her hand—echoing an earlier scene where Barnes expresses her desire to be reincarnated as a butterfly—before it vanishes. Was the butterfly ever real?

The filmmakers designed an ending rich in ambiguity. Did Barnes truly return from death to aid Paxton? Was the butterfly merely a figment of Paxton’s imagination? Will she survive her injuries, or perhaps she dies, and the butterfly represents her afterlife vision?

“Our goal was for this film, which revolves around discussions about religion for two hours, to extend into dialogue with the audience,” Woods explains. “We hope viewers engage in conversation and explore their interpretations.”

Beck adds that during early screenings, reactions varied significantly, with some viewers appreciating the ending and discovering personal meanings,

Some viewers were left wanting more clarity in the concluding scenes. Beck comments, “The intention is not to give clear-cut answers. Instead, it aims to spark thought or remind us of the profound questions that we grapple with as humans and how we shape our lives.”