#FIRSTLOOK: TEASER TRAILER FOR “COMPANION”

New Line Cinema—the studio that brought you “The Notebook”—and the unhinged creators of “Barbarian” cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story. Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release COMPANION January 10, 2025.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock (“My Dead Ex,” “Suburgatory”), “Companion” stars Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets,” “The Boogeyman”), Jack Quaid (“The Boys,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), Lukas Gage (“Smile 2,” “Dead Boy Detectives”), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever,” “It Lives Inside”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows,” “Blue Beetle”) and Rupert Friend (“High Desert,” “Asteroid City”). The film is produced by the filmmakers behind “Barbarian”—Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

The cinematographer is Eli Born (“The Boogeyman,” “Hellraiser”). The production designer is Scott Kuzio (“Dumb Money,” the “Fear Street” trilogy). The editors are Brett W. Bachman (“The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Pig”) and Josh Ethier (“Don’t Move,” “Orphan: First Kill”). The costume designer is Vanessa Porter (“The Toxic Avenger,” “Archive 81”). The composer is Hrishikesh Hirway (“Song Exploder,” “Everything Sucks!”). The music supervisor is Rob Lowry (“Do Revenge,” “Miracle Workers”). The casting is by Nancy Nayor (“Saw X,” “Barbarian”).

New Line Cinema presents A Boulderlight Pictures Production, In Association With Vertigo Entertainment/Subconscious: “Companion.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures,
in theatres January 10.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW POSTER FOR “HERETIC”

After its debut at TIFF ’24. we get a new Poster for HERETIC, starring Hugh Grant.

VVS Films release, in theatres November 8, 2024.

Details:

Genre: Horror
Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East

Synopsis:

Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

#TIFF24: “HERETIC” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Hugh Grant gives a formidable performance in this cat-and-mouse chamber-thriller about our beliefs in religion.

Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are part of the Latter-Day Saints. They’re currently knocking on the doors of people who’ve noted an interest to learn more about their church. That’s when they are introduced to Mr. Reed (Grant). He invites the two in with a promise that his wife is cooking the best blueberry pie one could have. But soon, all signs point to something more sinister behind Mr. Reed’s charming demeanour.

Co-Screenwriters and Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (who also co-wrote The Quiet Place) have created a successful Horror film that has something to say. Heretic may include two Sisters of the LDS but it doesn’t only question that religion. It questions all religious beliefs. But most importantly, it questions the reasoning of why we believe what we believe. One scene has Mr. Reed make references to board games and songs and revealing which are the true originals. This one pivotal scene alone proves that Heretic is a cerebral film concerned with making its audience confront their beliefs.

As Grant has said many times now, he’s in his freaks and monsters era. Mr. Reed follows in that category of character that he has now found himself playing decades into his career. And frankly, he’s never been better. In Heretic, his natural charm allows the audience and the Sisters to trust Mr. Reed. Grant is impeccable at playing his charm with the chilling rhetoric Mr. Reed delivers. Resulting in an eerie performance that will stand as one of his most memorable.

Heretic primarily takes place in one location: Mr. Reed’s home. It’s difficult to make a single setting horror entertaining. Yet, it is. This is due to the steady direction and pacing, the cinematography by Chung-Hoon Chung, and the performance from its three cast members.

Heretic screens at TIFF ’24:

Sun, Sept 8 at 9:30 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Mon, Sept 9 at 9 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto