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Propelled by popularMarvel-movie post-credit scenes, filmmakers often include blooper sequences, sneak-peeks, and cameos as a reward for audiences who sit through the end credits. Sticking around not only honors everyone who contributed to the film, but also gives fans insight about upcoming sequels or the behind-the-scenes work it took to finish it. AlthoughA24’slatest horror-thrillerHereticopts out of footage-based extras, a special end-credit thank you caught viewers' attention.
Directed byA Quiet Placeco-creators Scott Beck and Bryan Woods,Hereticis a frightening look at the nature of belief. It stars Hugh Grant, previouslyknown for cheeky leads in rom-comslikeLove ActuallyandNotting Hill, as Mr. Reed, a recluse who sets out to test the faith of two Mormon missionaries who turn up at his doorstep. Despite their absence on-screen or in the credits,Fast Times at Ridgemont Highwriter Cameron Crowe and Academy-Award winning actor Eddie Redmayne were thanked in the film’s end credits. Viewers are left wondering: how were they involved in making the movie?
What’s Heretic About?
A24’sHereticfollows the story oftwo door-to-door Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), who arrive at the home of Mr. Reed following his request for more information about their beliefs. Initially, they refuse to enter the house without a female presence. However, the young women go inside after Mr. Reed tells them his wife is in the kitchen baking — the scent of fresh blueberry pie convincing enough evidence of his sincerity and their safety.
Immediately, Mr. Reed begins interviewing the religious women about their faith and forcing them to endure horrific tests to prove themselves.As the film continues, Mr. Reed’s nefarious intentions, motivated by a distrust of every religion (except for one he refers to as “the one true religion”), are unveiled. It quickly becomes clear to the two women that he has no intention of converting to Mormonism, and they have fallen into anincreasingly threatening trap. Now realizing the danger they’re in, Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton must figure out a way to escape — with their faith and with their lives.
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Did Cameron Crowe Help Get Heretic Made?
Yes and no. During aninterview with Forbes, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods confessed thatCameron Crowe was an inspirational figure forHeretic, but he wasn’t involved in the filmmaking process beyond reading the script.The director-duo praise Crowe as his “super fans” who’ve “always admired how he writes from the heart and creates material that’s embarrassingly personal.“Wanting to make a film that establishes a similar intimacy between them and their audience, Beck and Woods wroteHereticwith Crowe’s sincerity in mind.
However, they did try to get Crowe to work on the film directly. After reading their script, he relayed nothing but heartfelt encouragement that brought Beck and Woods to tears. Woods gushed that Crowe’s kind words “inspired us to do our best to make a terrific film”. Althoughwhen offered a cameo, Crowe turned them down gently. His reasoning? He feared his terrible acting would dissuade Hugh Grant from ever working with him in the future. Considering Crowe had similarly offered a role to his hero Billy Wilder forJerry Maguireand was turned down, the gesture was a sweet homage to his past that made Beck and Woods love him all the more.
Why Is Eddie Redmayne Thanked?
Similar to Crowe’s minute collaboration with Beck and Woods, Eddie Redmayne received a special thank you despite not being in the film itself.After readingHeretic’sscript, Redmayne showered Beck and Woods with his own encouragement and hoped to work with them on it. Beck reciprocated with his own hopes that Redmayne could join the cast, and they could “all work together.” Unfortunately, though not surprisingly,Redmayne’s schedule was too full to take on the project in the end. Regardless, touched and invigorated by his endorsement of the film, Beck and Woods decided to include a grateful shout-out in its credits.
Hugh Grant’s Heretic Villain Was Inspired by a Creepy Real-Life Cult Leader
The writers of A Quiet Place based their new horror movie villain on a very real, very bad guy.
David Lowery and Steven Soderbergh Also Receive Thanks
Along with Crowe and Redmayne,the filmmakers behindHereticgave thanks to David Lowery, director of A24’sA Ghost Story, and Steven Soderbergh, who won countless Academy Awards forErin Brockovich. Both directors not only watched unfinished cuts of the film, but “offered great words of wisdom, feedback, and encouragement” as well. Beck and Woods also specifically sought out Lowery early-on because of his proven mastery of film editing. Lowery kindly offered them some advice about working remotely post-production and his technical processes using Adobe Premiere software.
In the end, Beck and Woods found themselves working with a “camaraderie of filmmakers” trying to bring their vision forHereticto life. Oftentimes, directors are thrown into their projects to figure things out for themselves. It’s incredibly rare to see creators offer up their time and effort to help others succeed in the entertainment industry. However, Beck and Woods made essential connections with their peers, whose advice made theirhorror film the shockingly realistic thrill-rideaudiences can see in theaters today. To include a special thank-you inHeretic’send credits was a small way to reflect their gratitude to them all.Hereticis currently playing in theaters.
