What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHeretic
Scott Beck · Film · 2024
If you loved Heretic, start with The Exorcist (Jeremy Slater, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Heretic across media.
If Heretic gripped you, it is because you crave stories where fragile faith is weaponized during terrifying, claustrophobic games of psychological manipulation.
Books on the same thread
The Caretaker
Marcus Kliewer · Book
Explores: isolated setting, malevolent forces, creeping dread.
Like the isolated trap set in Heretic, this book forces a lone protagonist into a dangerous occupational setting where malevolent forces turn a simple job into a fight for survival.
Pray For Him
Tyler Battaglia · Book · 2024
Shares 3 threads with Heretic: Faith vs. Doubt, Good vs. Evil, Religious Horror.
This narrative mirrors the intense struggle of faith found in Heretic, pitting a man of God against dark forces that test his conviction through a high-stakes, personal battle.
VERITY
Colleen Hoover · Book
Shares a thread with Heretic: psychological thriller.
Much like the duplicitous nature of Mr. Reed in Heretic, this story centers on the chilling realization that you are trapped in a home with someone harboring dangerous, hidden intentions.
Play Nice
Rachel Harrison · Book
Explores: inherited trauma, grief, family secrets.
The dread of entering a space defined by dark secrets in this book echoes the fatal mistake of the missionaries in Heretic, where inherited trauma meets immediate, supernatural danger.
Series on the same thread
Evil
Michelle King · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Heretic: Good vs. Evil.
Fans of Heretic will appreciate this series' analytical approach to the conflict between skepticism and faith, as characters investigate extraordinary occurrences that challenge their core beliefs and moral resolve.
The Exorcist
Jeremy Slater · Series · 2016
Shares 3 threads with Heretic: Faith vs. Doubt, Good vs. Evil, Religious Horror.
This series captures the same spiritual warfare seen in Heretic, focusing on the psychological toll taken on those who must defend their faith against a terrifying, encroaching demonic presence.
Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Heretic: Religious Horror.
The exploration of religious fanaticism and the dark deception of a charismatic leader in this town mirrors the deadly, manipulative game played by the antagonist in Heretic.
The Beast in Me
Gabe Rotter · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with Heretic: Psychological Thriller.
If you enjoyed the claustrophobic mind games in Heretic, you will recognize that same tension here as a character is forced into a dangerous power dynamic with a manipulative neighbor.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These audio dramas replicate the suspenseful, intimate storytelling of Heretic, placing listeners in morally ambiguous situations that demand close attention to uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface.
Baking A Murder
Podcast
Shares a thread with Heretic: Psychological Thriller.
This podcast satisfies the same morbid curiosity that Heretic evokes, diving deep into the psychology of criminals and the dark themes that make psychological thrillers so compelling to witness.
Common questions
Is Heretic a film about missionaries?
Yes, Heretic follows two young missionaries who knock on the wrong door. They quickly find themselves trapped by a man named Mr. Reed, who forces them to participate in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that tests the strength of their faith.
Who is the antagonist in Heretic?
The antagonist in Heretic is a character named Mr. Reed. He is the person who greets the two missionaries at his home and ensnares them in a dangerous game, forcing them to prove their faith while trapped within his residence.
What happens to the missionaries in Heretic?
In Heretic, the two missionaries are forced to prove their faith after encountering Mr. Reed. They become trapped in his home and must navigate a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that threatens their survival after they knock on the wrong door.
Is Heretic a 2024 movie?
Yes, Heretic is a 2024 movie directed by Scott Beck. The plot centers on two young missionaries who are held captive by a diabolical man named Mr. Reed, leading them into a dangerous game where they must defend their beliefs to survive.