Heretic
Warning: Spoilers for Heretic ahead!A24’s latest psychological horror movie,Heretic, stars Hugh Grant, Sophia Thatcher, and Chloe East, but it also features a brief fun cameo from Topher Grace that requires some explanation.Hereticfocuses primarily on three characters: Grant’s mysterious Mr. Reed, Thatcher’s Sister Barnes and East’s Sister Paxton.
The two young missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are invited to Reed’s home to pitch their religion and potentially baptize him, but what unfolds is an unsettling, slow-burn examination of faith, belief, and organized religion as a whole.
Bythe end ofHeretic, Grant proves how capable he is in a creepier, more intimidating capacity, which is certainly against punch in for the veteran English actor.
Thatcher and East complement Grant’s terrifyingly saccharine Mr. Reed with very convincing performances, and a vast majority of the movie’s runtime is dedicated to the three characters' evolving game of cat and mouse.
There is only one other named character in the movie, and eagle-eyed viewers will recognize Grace in the cameo role, which he has done multiple times in his movie career.
Hugh Grant’s villainous Mr. Reed plays a complicated role in the twisty psychological horror Heretic, and his complex plan is tough to decipher.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
Topher Grace Plays Elder Kennedy In Heretic
He Plays A Leader In The Church Of The Movie’s Main Characters
Topher Grace cameos as Elder Kennedy, one of the leaders of the church from whence the two young girls ae dispatched upon their mission.
Unless one is looking out for Grace, his cameo might fly under the radar;in his religious outfit, glasses, and unnatural blonde hair, Grace is not easily recognizable.
He is briefly shown cleaning the church while the girls are on their visit to Mr. Reed’s home, and grows increasingly concerned when the weather turns cold and snowy and the girls haven’t returned from their excursion.
Heretic, released in 2024, follows two young missionaries who must navigate a perilous test of faith when they encounter the sinister Mr. Reed after knocking on the wrong door, leading to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
HereticKey Details
Release Date
Budget
Box Office Projection
RT Tomatometer Score
RT Popcornmeter Score
November 8th, 2024
$6.9 million
$10.6 million (opening weekend)
93%
79%
Topher Grace’s Elder Kennedy becomes the last hope for Sisters Barnes and Paxton, as he knows the route they were planning to take that day and which houses they were stopping at to deliver their message.
He goes to Mr. Reed’s house himself, and even directly asks him about the girls before offering an informational booklet and moving on.
The girls attempt to get matches to set the basement they’re trapped in on fire and signal to Elder Kennedy as they know he’s aware of their schedule and will venture to find them, but their efforts are in vain.
Heretic Marks Another Unexpected Movie Cameo For Topher Grace’s Career
He’s Had Cameos In A Number Of High-Profile Films
While Topher Grace is most well-known forhis role as Eric Forman on the iconic sitcomThat 70’s Show, he has built a substantial career in feature films as well.
His highest-profile role is undoubtedly as Eddie Brock/Venom inSpider-Man 3, but he’s had major starring roles in movies likeIn Good Company, American Ultra, andTake Me Home Tonight.
However, throughout his career, Grace has amassed a number of cameo roles like the one he has inHeretic, all of which tend to be memorable given how universally recognizable Grace was as Eric Forman.
Topher Grace’s real first name is Christopher, but as a child he didn’t like being called “Chris”, and therefore dropped that “Chris” from “Christopher” when he began acting to get to “Topher”.
Some of Grace’s earliest cameos came in themega-hit heist moviesOcean’s ElevenandOcean’s Twelve, in which he technically just played himselfin an uncredited role.
He also played a very small role in Christopher Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi classicInterstellar, which was insignificant enough to consider a cameo.
Grace has made unexpected cameos in several TV shows as well, includingThe Muppets,Workaholics, and one particularly memorable episode of the Netflix hitBlack Mirror.
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Heretic, released in 2024, follows two young missionaries who must navigate a perilous test of faith when they encounter the sinister Mr. Reed after knocking on the wrong door, leading to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
