Heretic (2024) and the Literary and Linguistic Theories Used in the Movie

    "When a lot of students struggle in doing their literary analysis, "Heretic (2024)" did better and made it thrilling!"

    Heretic (2024) is a thriller movie directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. It was a mind-chilling and an insane approach to storytelling. The dialogues and narratives cause discomfort and goosebumps as it uncovers climactic turns as Mr. Reeds (the antagonist) reveal his conclusion as the "one true religion" to the two female (protagonists) missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But the movie is not only composed of intelligent scriptwriting, it also exhibits a wide-range of literary theories.

     It is rarely seen to showcase literary and linguistic theories in movies, particularly in thriller. The last time (I recall) such theories became great elements of thriller was in "Angels & Demons". It may come to mind that perhaps the most intelligible use of such theories in thriller is in challenging perspectives towards religion, or any topic relating to long established beliefs.

The Literary Theories Used in the Movie

1. Reader-Response Theory

     The missionaries were repeatedly asked of their point-of-views regarding their belief which also is supported by their (previous and intensive) reading experience. With each of the missionaries coming from different backgrounds, their similarities and differences in their demographics and experiences also shaped their responses and interactions throughout the movie. 

2. Psychoanalytic Theory and Marxist Theory

     On the basis of the dynamics between God and the apostles, Mr. Reed pointed out that "If revelations by God is filtered through man, and man is flawed, and man sins and man lies, how do we know that any of it is true?".  In utilizing a psychoanalytic theory, his question makes sense. Referring to the apostles as part of the story and also as writers, they can be indeed a subject for psychoanalytic analysis. This was also given focus by exemplifying his point-of-view towards the intentions of the proponents of what he perceived as religious-iterations.

3. Genre Analysis

        Mr. Reeds mentioned that he studied religion through genre and rigorous study, which marks genre analysis as the most obvious literary theory used in the movie. In his way of analyzing genre, he potentially studied the similarities across different religions and how each influences and affects its readers. This is perhaps why the presence of missionaries is one of his highlighted reasons to why such modern religion are more popular. This could mean that the presence of missionaries and giving away pamphlets are more active means of passing through the contents of scriptures rather than the usual which is static which helps increase their following.

4. Archetypal Theory

    Mr. Reeds utilized archetypal theory to uncover the central model of all religion which we could say how he concluded what the "one true religion" is. It can also be theorized that he distinguished and categorized the adventures and miracles performed of the gods in different religions across their different times by linking their similarities which made him refer to the succeeding versions as iterations.

The Linguistic Theories Used in the Movie

1. Discourse Analysis

    As the plot of the movie goes on, we get to realize that the whole experience is not only a lecture but a social experiment. It was shown that Mr. Reeds carefully craft narratives to which he takes note of the reactions and information he gained from his captives. 

Mr. Reeds even asked questions in different parts of the movie highlighting each of the missionaries' differences and how it affected their faith such as:

"When your father lost control of his body, did you think it was God’s plan to ruin his life? Or did you go on believing something that you know is not true just to give you comfort because you were afraid of what it might mean if it was all a lie?"

"Do you…still believe that my wife is in the next room? Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the scented candle, the absence of an oven with blueberry pie? Or have you been politely indulging a lie? If you still believe that she’s in there, I’ll go ask, but it’s something I want you to think about and maybe think about in the context of your beliefs."

2. Critical Discourse Analysis

    Critical Discourse Analysis is different with Discourse analysis since it involves a deeper focus on the use of power and its dynamics and power relations in the participants of the discourse. Mr. Reed initially builds his position in the discourse in attempt to gain the trust and reliability in the discourse.

As seen:

MR. REED: Mmhmm. As I understand it, stop me when I go wrong, he was visited in the night by an angel called Morony. 

Both (PAXTON & BARNES): Moroni. Yeah.

MR. REED: Moroni, who showed him where he could locate some golden plates near his home. His mysterious translation of those plates form the basis of this.

(Showing a copy of the Book of Mormon)

PAXTON: Wow! No, you read more than we do!

No, seriously, we should be more like you, Mr. Reed!

(CHUCKLES) Mr. “Read.”

Moreover, it can also be seen in the questions that Mr. Reeds asks that he highlights his position in the discourse, in which serves as an obvious critical discourse analysis marker.

Particularly:

"Do you believe in God because somebody told you at an impressionable age that God is real, despite having doubts as you got older, despite… seeing evidence to the contrary your whole lives?"

"I put the scented candle on the table because I wanted you to think about the things that you believe just because somebody asked you to believe them."

    These are only few of the instances present in the movie that prove that Heretic (2024) contains a pool of literary and linguistic theories that are carefully crafted to become great elements of a narrative. It is an inspiring take to be inclusive of not only the usual themes in such movies but also to expand in and incorporate the use of literary and linguistic theories as an effective and enhancing element of thriller. Movies like this really encapsulate how contemporary thriller and horror movies can also be intelligible means of exhibiting theoretical perspectives.