Heretic star Hugh Grant says he created a "full biography" for his horror movie villain and believes audiences love baddies as "it's a recognition of our true nature - selfish, evil, cruel, vicious"
Oct. 28, 2024Exclusive: The actor discusses playing Heretic’s wicked Mr. Reed and why audiences are continually drawn to villains
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Although British actor Hugh Grant has played villains before in the likes ofPaddington 2andDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, his menacing role inA24’s new horror movie Heretic feels worlds away from his previous work.
The latest film from director duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who have previous experience with horror having written A Quiet Place, follows two Mormon missionaries (played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) as they attempt to convert a man named Mr. Reed. Grant plays this mysterious stranger, who turns out to be more dangerous than both the missionaries themselves and the audience could have anticipated.
As Reed uncovers his secrets, the more twisted this tale becomes, although there are many things left unknown about the cruel villain. Grant therefore took it upon himself to create a “full biography” for his character, which he used to help understand Reed’s motivations.
Continuing, Grant states that this was necessary to ensure that the audience are able to connect in some way with his villain: “I think it’s very important that the audience can kind of smell the damage inside him. Otherwise, there’s a danger that you just become a pantomime villain, but if they can smell there’s a suffering person in there, then they’re more interesting.”
Whilst a role as monstrous as this one is new for Grant, he does believe that overall actors love playing baddies, tellingEntertainment Weeklythat “every actor really prefers it”. But why does he think audiences are continually drawn to these vicious villains?
When we put this question to the actor, he intriguingly concludes: “If you go to any pantomime, who does the audience love? They love the baddie and we are drawn to baddies. My personal theory is that it’s because we are bad and it’s a recognition of our true nature - selfish, evil, cruel, vicious.”
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
Heretic releases in UK cinemas on November 1, before opening in US theaters on November 8.
For more, check out the otherupcoming horror moviesthat are soon heading your way.
As Entertainment Editor at GamesRadar, I oversee all the online content for Total Film and SFX magazine. Previously I’ve worked for the BBC, Zavvi, UNILAD, Yahoo, Digital Spy and more.
Andrew Garfield says he’s “disappointed” he couldn’t do Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, but Jacob Elordi “needed it more” than him
A possible Cillian Murphy cameo in the first trailer for horror sequel 28 Years Later puts a horrible twist on the original’s ending
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' “core fight mechanics are the same” for both protagonists, but some enemies will be “more aggressive towards Naoe” and “fearful of Yasuke”
