Religion has long been a staple of horror, with its supernatural tales, gothic iconography, and ultimate battle between good and evil. Where most religious-themed horror films utilize the familiarity of Catholicism and the occult, HereticThe new film from directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods goes in a completely new direction and centers on two Mormon missionaries who visit the wrong house.

This may come as a surprise to many, but very few 20-year-olds actually feel like knocking on strangers' doors and talking about the church. It's hard to describe the feeling of standing at the front door with your name tag on your coat, wondering who will open the door and whether anyone will listen to what you have to say or drive you away – sometimes violently. Missions are not required for children growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although they are encouraged for several reasons. While conversion is a goal, personal, spiritual and even professional growth are the most important results.

In the opening scene of HereticSister Paxton (Chloe East, The Fabelmans) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher, Yellowjackets) sitting on a park bench in the wintry Colorado town where they serve. They have a very uncomfortable conversation about pornography, which leads to Sister Paxton asking her companion, “How did God show it to you?” It starts off as a frustratingly infantile discussion, which is why it was such a pleasant surprise that the film almost immediately became a fairly accurate and realistic depiction of the daily life of a Mormon missionary.

As the clouds gather and daylight fades, sisters Paxton and Barnes knock on Mr. Reed's (Hugh Grant) door, honoring his own request for a visit. He invites them over and they tell him that there is a rule against being alone with a man. He explains that his wife is inside, and they follow him into a cozy living room with the promise of freshly baked blueberry pie and shelter from the pouring rain outside.

Hugh Grant has all the charm that has made him a romantic comedy star and is the perfect choice for the role of Mr. Reed. His seemingly friendly demeanor immediately puts Nurse Paxton at ease. Sister Barnes is a little more reserved, although she is pleased when Mr. Reed produces a carefully noted copy of the Book of Mormon. “I think you learned more than us!” she says. Grant's crooked grin and self-deprecating humor captivate her. The viewer knows there is something sinister behind the affable chatter, but it's easy to see why the sisters would trust him so easily.

The following conversation is notable not for its content but for its familiarity. As a young Mormon missionary, I sat in many living rooms and discussed religion – both the general concept and the specifics of my own religion. Some of these conversations were friendly and insightful. Others were hostile, uncomfortable and occasionally mean. Beck and Woods, who co-directed and co-wrote the screenplay, have clearly done their homework when it comes to the actual experience of Latter-day Saint missionary service. There are certain aspects that don't quite fit, which is to be expected when you take a very specific and lesser known experience and send it into the mainstream. But I've been racking my brain and can't figure out who Elder Kennedy of Topher Grace is supposed to represent, or why the sisters would be cleaning the church every night, other than the shorthand that ensures someone will immediately notice the girls are missing . Grace's only real function is as a plot device, and that's fine. The story is not about Elder Kennedy or anyone in the outside world finding two missing people. It's about what happens to them in the house.

Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are excellent, bringing depth and nuance to roles that could have been reduced to naive caricatures. Thatcher's sister Barnes is complex, clever and, despite her young age, already a little world-weary. East brings a cheerful optimism to the younger, more sheltered sister Paxton, although she's not stupid. She may take a little longer to sense danger than her more cynical companion, but she still has the ability to pay attention and figure things out.

Heretic has been described as a “Mormon missionary horror film,” although it hardly qualifies as a horror film. It's exciting and sometimes frightening, but fits more into the category of a well-made thriller. It's not really about Mormonism either. Instead, Beck and Woods have built an amusement park where religion is a personal and acceptable choice, and the villain is not simply another religion or the absence thereof, but the assumption that those who follow it are forced into it. In the LDS Church, young men are generally encouraged to serve, while it is less common and less expected for women. The decision to focus this film on two young women presents a powerful counterargument to Mr. Reed's own version of true religion and deepens the narrative constructed by Beck and Woods.

From the title Heretic (a word not used in Mormonism) to the trailer that seemed to portray Mormons as silly and naive, I went into the premiere of AFI Fest prepared to be annoyed at the way my church would be presented with all its problems and its unpleasant history. After watching this entertaining and intelligent film and reflecting on a version of my own experiences, I can happily reflect on having been converted.

Grade: A–

A24 is released Heretic only in cinemas on November 8th.

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