Heretic Ending Explained - What it's REALLY about

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

Which ending was true? Like & sub for more like this ❤ FREE audiobooks read by me: youtube.com/@DownToSleep My Gaming Channel: kzbin.info

[@puzzle-mo5xo]

I hate movies that can’t even tell a story. It’s like they get halfway through their story and they say “I’m not smart enough to finish this, let’s call it interpretive art” What a waste of time

[@tribalstyle138]

Exactly what I said the second the movie ended-- and the butterfly is her- she has died

[@bobkoroua]

There are about 5 weapons in that front room. He wouldn't last two minutes.

[@marionmarino1616]

The butterfly landing on the girl’s hand is the soul of her murdered friend. She was in shock after being stabbed in the throat but was able to revive long enough to try and rescue her friend. In the end Barnes also dies after being able to escape. The performances were great but this is a MOVIE I don’t enjoy endings where everyone dies & the audience is left trying to figure it out.

[@xpkareem]

Which ending you think is "true" says more about you than it does the movie. I don't think either ending is true and both are true and everything in between.

[@NZMunchie]

The moment the doors are locked and you can't leave, its time to start swinging and throwing items, smash windows and go nuts.

[@ThorGiske]

Turn into a psychotic serial killer

[@nicholethompson2354]

Agree totally 😂

[@Fazzieman]

that is a male reaction - women as conditioned to be 'nice' and if you submit/not confront you are more likely to survive. The whole thing is that the minute he starts being a dick and they start feeling uncomfortable they stay because they are being polite not to make him worse - they don't demand to be let out. They ask. It is Barnes pushing back that pushes him. The mention of how John Smith started the Mormons was to control women.

[@ash6755]

@@Fazziemannot me. I would have flipped that house over out of fear 🤣🤣🤣

[@randywhite327]

You're absolutely right! (I thought it was just me who was thinking that. 🙂) The minute they couldn't get out, they should have pointed out to Mr. Reed that he has destroyed his credibility because he has already lied to them about his wife. If he can't open the door then they should pry it off it's hinges or, as you said, smash open a window and reach out so they can make a call. Going deeper into the house is just ridiculous. Of course, it's also ridiculous for them them to go into any house without (a) first calling their church to let them know exactly where they are at and (b) carrying industrial strength mace.

[@samanthasnyder3564]

Going from an Oompa Loompa to this is devious work

[@mckenziestell7143]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@carolinerainey6261]

I want to know who approved these building permits.

[@cadenconner8096]

don’t need permits if you’re paying good enough and by that i mean hiring a contractor that’s willing to keep it a secret

[@TK79123]

Best comment

[@gigiarmany]

😂😂😂

[@bunnyofdoom4501]

The writers

[@barbarossa1780]

You just fire and hire a few contractors so no one does too much work on their own 🤷🏻 That’s how I built the room under my garage 👍🏻

[@knocknockify]

The real miracle in this movie was how long that phone battery lasted with how often the flashlight was being used

[@zozobra226]

being a pixel which has the worst battery

[@thedivinejustice]

😂

[@adamh905]

You're just saying that because your mobile phone controls you not the other way around.

[@jonfreeman9682]

Maybe not phones 10 years ago but phones now last a long time with super efficient LED flash.

[@Zohan369]

I think you need to upgrade whatever phone you're using lol

[@trent_king]

In addition to Paxton admitting to her disbelief in prayer, she also explained she wished to reincarnate as a butterfly. Reincarnation is against Mormon beliefs, so her offering to choose the door of disbelief was on-brand as she's demonstrated a few times that she isn't a genuine believer

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

Interesting, not an oversight since both the actresses are former Mormons! But I don't know if i'd say Paxton isn't genuine, I think she's a true survivor and the disbelief door was trying to keep Mr Reeeeeed happy, the fact she prayed in the face of the final danger in the basement and until her passing, would make me think she was actually a true believer. and IF you think the first ending is true, then she is a believer AND a chosen enough for a miracle to happen to save her. But it's up for debate!

[@BTMBINO]

Facts. When she said the word reincarnate I knew then she wasn’t a “true believer” due to the fact that in Christianity there is no reincarnation.

[@jameselliott2931]

I agree that the heretic in Heretic was Paxton. But also, there is also this thing among some Mormons where they say they will come back and give a sign. It's not reincarnation. It may be LIKE reincarnation. It's not an official Mormon doctrine by any means, but it's a thing I heard growing up LDS here and there. There's a song called I'll Build You A Rainbow that was popular in the 80s with Mormons, where a boy's dead mother presents herself as a rainbow so he knows she is still present. But with that said, Paxton is still the Heretic in the movie.

[@AliceBowie]

I havent seen the movie, but that's what i thought watching this video.

[@NIMMEEZE]

As a former Mormon, that line did strike me as unfamiliar when it came to what we were told and taught to repeat throughout life. Reincarnation is not learned and that small foreshadowing of her still finding her own personal set of beliefs was a interesting turn.

[@ashroskell]

I’m just loving Hue Grant’s Renaissance. From romantic leading man to quirky character actor who remains at the height of his powers. Some argue that he’s even better now than he’s ever been. His range has certainly surprised me, since he seems capable of doing anything. More power to him.

[@Kittycats26]

I came here to say the same thing! i love him as the bad guy

[@AdamGee8]

Much better as this than he is in romantic comedy.. He’s great as a scary guy

[@thekeyboardess1150]

He was great in Guy Ritchie's THE GENTLEMEN (as a hooking supporting character!) and the miniserie biopic A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL ❤👍

[@ashroskell]

@@thekeyboardess1150 : Never saw The Gentlemen, but I did see trailers and few YT clips. His, “mockney,” cockney accent was the most entertaining bit in each clip. He seems to be revelling in every role, like, “I’ve done the mega-star thing, got all the money I’ll ever need, learned a few life lessons and now I don’t have to try. I’m just going to do what I think has artistic merit, or take roles that promise me a damned good time.” And you can tell when an artist is enjoying themselves. I watched several interviews with the cast of the Dungeons and Dragons movie. There are several around on KZbin. And it’s just so impressive, the way all the other actors (some of them bigger stars than he is now) defer to him. He’s so funny and charming in real life, it seems. His wit is certainly un-fakeable (yes, I made up a word. Arrest me) and spontaneous, and the rapport he has with colleagues is actually sweet to behold. It’s like everything’s a bit of a giggle for him now and he’s just having a ball. But the talent he has is that his revelry is contagious, in a way that makes you feel invited to the party, so you can’t help but have a ball with him. I’m getting to the point where his name alone is sufficient for me to check out a movie. On that note, would you recommend The Gentlemen?

[@johnturtle6649]

Maybe someday it will come out he's not the person you seem to think he is. He was in a relationship with Elizabeth Hurley after all. Who is apparently a name on the "the island" visitors.

[@versebuchanan512]

This film is terrifying. Imagine having Mormons inside your home...

[@plamondonworks6948]

Lmao as an ex missionary that made me laugh

[@easyenetwork2023]

Are they all this pretty though?

[@petradegroot3578]

😂

[@RamosKaty-lc9rt]

I hate u😂😂😂

[@dwaynesala8876]

😂

[@MightyHex]

Who else thought the guy from the church was going to see their bikes? I was screaming “THE BIKES! THE BIKES!”

[@SandraDodd]

When the key wasn't in the right pocket, I knew he had moved the bikes.

[@jamesnorthcutt7321]

Yes, Mr. Reed took the key and moved the bike. Hence Paxton noticing his wet hair, etc. The bikes were gone by the time the elder arrived.

[@mayeveryday6453]

SAME seeing the bike lock on the cellar door drained all hope

[@Sarah.6.6.6.]

@@SandraDoddSame! This dude is too smart and we already know this isn’t his first rodeo.

[@John-nd2cl]

I can't believe that was Topher Grace lol

[@AshleyBrown-ff8sh]

You didn't mention the phone at the end when she climbs out of the window. It still said no service when she drops it outside, while they had service outside before going into the home. I think she never left and she's hallucinating/dying.

[@GabeSt7]

So true, I agree with you, though I wonder if she was hallucinating, why wouldn’t she hallucinate having cell signal?

[@Adrianafaith123]

I noticed that too about the phone...no service when she was outside

[@mostmelon8243]

She's also still bleeding to death. I don't think she patched herself up or anything and she doesn't find help. She can just suddenly move around like normal again.

[@colli_wolly]

My argument for that theory would be that, sometimes, a phone's signal will not reconnect immediately after leaving a location that would disrupt its connection. It could take either a few seconds or a couple of minutes for it to even get a bar of signal (that's also depending on the location, service, and phone model, of course), and the camera at the end focuses on the phone for about 8 seconds before she picks it up, and I would say that her phone does get at least a bar in the very next shot. But then again, that's just my interpretation.

[@easyenetwork2023]

I think she left. But she died.

[@Itscamithink]

Not to mention the butterfly at the end again but in addition to the butterfly disappearing, it got deadly quiet suddenly. No outside noise anymore and she acknowledges it. Credits. This seems to me that she died in that moment. Meaning she went through all of that just to die post escape. She did escape. And I think in the moment of adrenaline crash allowed her body to give up and she died once she knew she was free. Tragic but beautiful.

[@lexxiewingo3305]

See I thought she died too, but when the Mr. Reed crawled up to her, I think that’s when it happened. I think she imagined Sister Barnes saving her and her escaping, but it didn’t actually happen. i think that was her reincarnating as that butterfly

[@shanksworthy]

I agree that she made it outside before she died. The snow is often referenced as her own mental pre-death concoction representing heaven and clouds, but I don’t think she’d have known that it had begun to snow earlier. The snow didn’t start to fall until after they were already trapped in the house, so not sure she’d have known about it (remember it was only raining when they’d arrived). I may be missing something - maybe there was a point where she saw the snow outside through a window or something - otherwise the snow would not have been a likely thing for her to concoct, and therefore she was seeing it for real.

[@EdgerDelgado]

Snow dampens sound 😌

[@BrandynQuigley]

Butterflies don't exist in the winter.

[@crwnofenlightenment]

​@@BrandynQuigley Excellent point. That tells us she didn't make it.

[@theamazingcowlet]

The ending is like the "belief" and "disbelief" doors leading to the very same room

[@happyhappyjoyjoy9795]

Yup, none of it is real 😂🎉

[@giorgioperleka3893]

At the end death will reign supreme

[@chrisss8s]

For some reason I think the doors would sound better if labelled ‘beliver’ and ‘non-believer’

[@mostmelon8243]

Believe or disbelieve, you end up in the same place. In a way that could be true if religion is real or it's not.

[@kenziii5973]

@@mostmelon8243 SO no salvation for neither of the ways

[@crystalblue8182]

My take on the ending is similar to the film makers take. We choose what we believe and that makes it our reality. That's why paxton brings up the prayer experiment. It doesnt matter that "it doesnt work" what matters is how it makes you feel and that colors your view of the world. Notice how mr. Reed was very knowledgeable but he wasnt very happy/satisfied. Paxton looked like she found peace. We choose what we see at the end

[@danielkeizer4174]

Not really. Happiness is just a temporal thing. The main themes of the movie (according to me at least) is obsession, knowledge and faith. A triune problem (pun intended). You see all of the characters are deeply flawed when it comes to their consistency, wich comes through in their dialogue. Non really holds up to scrutiny when it comes to their beliefs. The movie shows as much. There's so much to unpack I really have to rewatch the entire movie again (oh goody, and actual psychological thriller/horror that works and has levels) but in essence I'm going to stick to the main antagonist. He's clearly an intellectual and has an obsessive need to know what is true. He hasn't been able to figure out if any of the religions are true at all but has this incessant need to keep testing for it. Because it's a question without an answer. It's an itch he can't scratch. He's obsessed with finding out the truth. But there's really only one way to get to that truth. An inevitability. The end of the road. Game over. Death. Only in death can he find out wich one was the right religion (as can we all) so the question remains unanswered. And this bothers him. His quest remains unfulfilled. And yet there's a need to find an answer to a question that has non. Obsession takes over. He wants to know the right path to take. But doesn't. After years and years of studying in depth the thing he needs what he really lacks is faith. He can't commit to anything, because his mind won't let him. What if it's the wrong one. How can we know wich is the right one?. And so the spiral continues and he lost his mind in the process. But can't let go because he needs to know before it's too late. He's essentially a man ruled by fear. He needs certainty and no religion actually gives certainty. Even in his misguided conclusion he is factually inconsequent to himself. As he remains searching endlessly repeatedly trying to push the envelope to no avail. Yet he hasn't given up, and won't. In that respect the girls have him dead to rights. Everyone needs something to believe in. Even if its not going to lead to an actual answer everyone is still searching. So is mister Reed until his last breath. He's hoping to solve the riddle that has taken his sanity and is now effectively ruling his life. He can't let it go. Because he has to know the unknowable about the unknown. Lest he die before solving the equation. When in the last scene he sobs when she's praying he's actually still hoping for a miracle. Because deep down he really does want something to happen, anything. To find a reason to believe in something or see a sign of gods existence. When that doesn't happen yet again, he get's frustrated and angry at yet another flawed attempt to appeal to this higher authority that clearly hasn't come to aid. As he's dying he is out of time and now can't find and note the true answer. No Nobel prize. Nothing to write about. The end of his intellectual journey and life has amounted to nothing. He's still not closer to an answer. Perhaps if he kills her god would come before he dies. Ambiguous scene where dead person comes to life to save her. (Still no actual answer because she could be a miracle or happenstance) The movie isn't trying to answer this question you see. The movie is the questioning itself. And was about to prove yet again his mastery over her fate was bigger then any gods. This was also the point of these others in the boxes. It's an allegory within an allegory within a paradox. As they are all probably different denominations of religions (boxes) non can escape. Het they lead nowhere and non actually get saved from his power over them. Religion=control and he's controlling multiple religious people stuck within their seperate boxes. All hopeless and unable to change whatever fate he has planned out for them. God's aren't coming to their aid. But what he wants more then anything is for one to do so. His desperation is palpable. He's tormenting them yes. But not just out of the pleasure for it. He's trying to push endlessly to prove himself wrong. Wich is the irony of it all. A man who desperately wants to know if god exists, but hasn't the conviction or faith necessary to believe in one. He is also controlled by the exact same things he is trying to put onto any of his victims. Fear of the unknown. Scared to look into the abyss. As there's but one way to know. And that's still open for debate as non has ever returned to tell anyone if they are right or wrong. Hence the experiment. He knows it's a trick but they don't. So he does gain insight into what they believe happened. Because he has no belief himself. And unfortunately that experiment can be done a million times and he'll still be no closer to an actual answer. Because it's subjective. Because no one knows. But he needs to know. Obsessively. The truth. As he's dying he is out of time and now can't find and note the true answer. No Nobel prize. Nothing to write about. The end of his intellectual journey and life has amounted to nothing. He's still not closer to an answer. Perhaps if he kills her god would come before he dies. Ambiguous scene where dead person comes to life to save her. (Still no actual answer because she could be a miracle or happenstance) The movie isn't trying to answer this question you see. The movie is the questioning itself. Wich is that no one alive can know. And those that know can't tell anyone. End of movie.

[@producedby3am344]

Yes but you can choose to treat people with kindness and respect and love and NOT have to lie to yourself about religion. Like he said it’s just control

[@danielkeizer4174]

@@producedby3am344 oh I guess the obvious has to be stated. I'm sorry I presumed you had understood this person has an antisociale personality disorder. Or what used to be known as a psychopath. They are incapable of those emotions and view people as pawns in their little game. They have very little feelings towards others are massively egocentric. That's why he can and does the things he does. He doesn't see them as you do. To such a person it's all about power and control. Literally says so in the movie when the girl asks him why do you do it? Because you let me.

[@sampleoffers1978]

It's real point that in her experience, concluding film, he's dead, she escapes.

[@jewlliankaplan3946]

@@danielkeizer4174Because “you” let me or because God let’s him? Like he said, the true religion is control. He’s hoping to be proven wrong by doing this experiment but he never is/was.

[@spencerlavin1502]

I think that the good ending is likely for the reason that the even bigger reveal than Mr. Reed not believing in religion is that Paxton isn't a literalist. Her explanation of the prayer experiment aligns with the theme of absolute certainty in either direction being absurd, and that she is making the conscious choice to believe. The butterfly appears and disappears to show that she is aware it isn't there, but chooses to see it anyway as a representative of Barnes.

[@redrage369]

Absurdism wins

[@malkam.7543]

I really like this. I could also see the butterfly disappearing because Paxton is being revived. The exit from the house is her last moments of consciousness, and her brain starts to make a beautiful picture. but her phone is connecting and as soon as it gets signal, which they had outside the house, it will connect and the messages they left and texts they sent will go through, alerting the elders to where they are. You could see the disappearance of the butterfly as her brain ceasing to paint this insane picture as she dies, the silence as her brain coming back on line, and the credits rolling not as her death but as her being yanked back into reality. Just a take.

[@Star_ray8507]

This is a great theory

[@scooterbooter]

this is my interpretation as well

[@subscribetome4909]

​@@malkam.7543 it's a relief reading this

[@IJC52]

They all died, her leaving the house was her soul being free from her body. Endings are more beautiful than beginnings because everything gets slowly revealed to you, all your suffering and worry are vanquished and there is nothing but peace. What your meant to do on earth is your business but when it’s your time to go whether your ready or not embrace it.

[@olgarodionova27]

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[@lauraweiss7875]

Do we remember what it was like before we were born? (We don’t even remember what our first years were like.) Similarly, I think the end is just switching off the power. You are no longer suffering , no longer regretting things and nothing is revealed.

[@costealucia5357]

How can you find peace if you're not existing anymore, as nothing.

[@IJC52]

@ is this for me or someone else ?

[@costealucia5357]

If your comment was addressed to me, yes, it was for you.

[@danielemondmusic]

This video is the one true analysis. The, ‘Wendy’s’ of ending explained videos, you might say.

[@erdelegy]

Agree. Got my subscribe. 100%

[@brentsdadgets2658]

BTW, the snow should demonstrate that there is no way a butterfly would be there.

[@MariaRositaxoxo]

My thought too

[@nee2905]

Well, if we're to believe that the butterfly is actually the soul of her friend then it wouldn't matter what the weather was like surely because it's not really a butterfly? (not that I believe she was alive in the end, just saying if you want to believe the magical religious ending)

[@nevermusic]

Theres a butterfly in the beginning tho.

[@Kyle_Davis011]

Yep

[@tatianabowman]

I thought the butterfly was just a hallucination from the excessive blood loss. I didn’t even consider that Sister Paxton might be dead, and that the hallucination could be a result of the lack of oxygen.

[@DistortedEmpath]

Excessive blood loss results in death it’s where she passed is the question

[@tatianabowman]

@ But it could take anywhere from 5 minutes to 14 hours for someone to bleed out. And he just stabbed her before the movie ends. So there’s a chance that it could’ve been a hallucination.

[@pennywright3274]

"Hiding intelligence as a survival tactic" got me to sub to your channel. I use this tactic all the time. Why let my enemies know that I know?

[@OnlineSometimes]

Usually when people say this they are almost always an idiot. Yet I understand this all too well. Just sit back and let people show their own stupidity then you swoop in.

[@obsidian295]

@@OnlineSometimes and that wasn't as smart as you thought it was either, but I do agree that OP is a moron

[@klodianmema2877]

You have been controlled.

[@LoganLuther2000]

Nobody is talking about how the version of knocking on heavens door that plays in the credits is sung by sophie thatcher who plays sister barnes

[@SandraDodd]

I turned my phone back on and asked Siri to identify the singer while it was still playing. 🙂

[@kimmiB95]

your last point about the wives is spot on, he also has a mug and thermos with "hubby" written on it

[@humayra0075]

Explain please

[@nee2905]

I thought that mug was just to fool his victims into thinking he has a wife in the house

[@sthlng2180]

Could be both. After all, it is hinted at first the prophet is Mrs. Reed. ​@@nee2905

[@rhino5100]

I'm the person who is too scared to watch horror/scary movies, but still wants to know what happened. I was already terrified watching your summary at home with all the lights on by the 4:30 minute marker and I hung on to the end. I will never watch this movie, but appreciate your thoughtful summary. I'm now subscribed so I can vicariously experience movies I will never have the guts to watch. 💛

[@noaoah3662]

It’s not really scary. I’m not a huge fan of horror and I have never really gone out of my way to watch horror movies. Compared to movies like Hereditary (also by A24, of course), this one is far more thought-provoking and intellectually engaging, and on multiple levels. I’d strongly recommend watching it, as of writing this comment I basically just came home from watching it in the cinema with friends.

[@jongallardo8006]

This one is more suspense than an actual horror movie tbh. There’s only maybe 1 or 2 jump scares too

[@judithvanderklip_]

precisely hahaha

[@eboli7146]

I feel you- I startle easily and avoid horror/violent movies because I just find them too disturbing. I watched Heretic because I was curious and also thought it was more of a psychological thriller and not a horror. Wrong - people say it’s not particularly violent but I found it shocking and I had to shut my eyes for much of the last half hour 😢🙈

[@pcucumbern]

This movie leaves you shivering. I love the ending.

[@Blah2000Blah]

I saw the movie this weekend and thought the ending was a mixture of the two. I believed there was a "miracle" that led to her escape, but when she was free, she was dying and saw the butterfly, which served as her own personal confirmation. The way I understood the movie is summed up through the doors of belief and disbelief. Whether you believe or not doesn't matter. All paths lead to the same place - an unknown to those who haven't crossed over themselves.

[@itsagoal182]

Not really, all paths do not lead to the same place, that’s the whole point of the ending, and in religion itself.

[@tylerfara]

I thought Mr Reed is a sexual predator and serial killer and all of the religious stuff is just his way of internally justifying his sexual deviance. just before Barnes stabs him, he’s creeping up behind her, talking about her underwear, and telling her that the one true religion is control; of course because he has all the control that makes him God in this religion, and that matches the pattern of serial killers who are motivated by sexual deviance, but who justify it to themselves by casting themselves as much smarter and more clever than their victims, who are almost subhuman in the killer’s eyes, and are therefore deserving, again in the killers eyes, of abuse and murder at the hands of the killer. I think prophet ate the pie because it was her way to escape what had been years of torture and abuse.

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

He also starts playing with her hair in that scene right before the code word, it's like the moment he thinks he has "won", the mask is slipping and he is letting his true motivation show. It's very subtle but it's there.

[@rainbowdiamond6039]

I don't know, I think there would have been more hints before if that was the case. He isn't very subtle but it does fit in his "control" I just think he's honestly more focused on wanting to be right. And the many mentions on the undergarments is because they are a big part of mormons/TLDS, seeings undergarments out of religion is one of the worst things you could do and thus they arent very known about. Also not all mormons wear them and sneak past the rules

[@blinkypushbuttons]

More common than not, even if they aren't religous they're programmed to be hypocrites.

[@MsSonali1980]

@@rainbowdiamond6039 Maybe that is the point, that you basically cannot decide if he is a sexual predator, a cult leader, a serial killer... it's all about control, only different outlets for their urge to control. The point about the polygamy that was made, had a reason. While some rectify their horrific behaviour with religion, he let out his sadism with making questioning religion actually his religion. He was a believer of his own brain construct to rectify what he does/did. When in the end, he is just a predator.

[@lucykinski]

I think that your comment proves exactly what the film makers were trying to show and that is that the meaning of this film is what YOU take from it. That will be influenced by all the things that have influenced you throughout your life. But this made you think and it made you feel 😊

[@honeymoonavenue97]

“Hugh Grant doing an impression of 90’s Hugh Grant” lmao

[@garyspeed1568]

There was also the subtle moment when Mr Reed corrects the sisters over a quote that they started talking about, informing them that the quote actually belonged to Voltaire, a known anti papal conspirator, atheist, and often credited with being the brain child of the French Revolution. It gives the audience the inclination that Mr Reed's "quest" for the one true religion ended up leading him down a path of apostasy etc That is to say, for as much as he was clued up in all the theology of world religions, he was equally clued up with the atheistic arguments too

[@MsSonali1980]

I would guess that if one studies theology on an academic level, they also have to study philosophy.

[@davidroberts7282]

While Voltaire was certainly a huge, unabashed critic of the pre-1789 French ancien regime "Estates" system which organized French society into three major categories and the close, inextricable bonds shared by the Bourbon monarchy of Louis XVI and Catholic Church for centuries, many French historians still hotly debate whether Voltaire was an atheist or more like a deist, like other Enlightenment thinkers and politicians were like Thomas Jefferson and Robespierre and while Voltaire's ideas were very influential amongst Robespierre, Morat, St. Just, and later Napoleon, I would argue Rousseau's ideas and arguments were just as influential. Particularly how the Jacobins who ruled through the Committee of Public Safety from 1972-July 1794 (Thermidore) often cited Rousseau's theories about the "General Will", " Stag Hunt" to justify their "temporary" dictatorship, restricting civil liberties like freedom of press, assembly, arresting, convicting and guillotining accused counter-revolutionaries during the "Reign of Terror". Also caught up and eventually arrested and dying in a cold, forgotten island fortress off the coast of Calais was the famous, influential British philosopher, writer Thomas Paine after he served as a MP in the Chamber of Deputies in Paris.

[@davidroberts7282]

Voltaire probably wouldve opposed many of the leading French revolutionary leaders for their organized, unnecessary state terror campaigns, widespread violence, and reinstating censorship, and arbitrary arrest and lack of checks and balances to prevent charismatic idealistic demogagoes like Robespierre who hijacked the aeges and hopes of the Revolution and proceeded to take it down a dark, fateful and violent road.

[@garyspeed1568]

@davidroberts7282 That's fair and thanks for the info! I just happened to stumble across and read the works of Augustin Barruel (of course a tendencious source) on the French Revolution, about a week or so before seeing Heretic.

[@terenceflynn5125]

It was actually Spider-Man and not Voltaire that said that though.. really silly mistake Hugh made

[@wtswingle]

The butterfly also refers to Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream, questioning the reality of that moment and any assumptions we bring to the ending. It reminds us that nothing is certain.

[@chrisss8s]

I would’ve just assumed ‘the prophet’ just ate a pie laced with a drug that slows or temp stops your heart. Movies tells us this drug exists

[@MsSonali1980]

Either that, or she ate the cake to die, because she was incarcerated in that house for so long. And the "resurrected" one was indeed another woman. Oh, and also, didn't she see the dead woman in the next room lying?

[@the1Sun]

​@@MsSonali1980yes there's literally a body lying on the ground and also he says she (the prophet) doesn't know it's laced with the poison

[@christopherross8358]

Ahh.. The Caribbean Zombie Drug would have been an interesting add

[@kflanigan]

You missed the statue of Plato at the entrance to the "cave"

[@Flash-pp3cr]

One of the best reviews of this movie I've seen

[@sioweneyen]

After watching this video, I came to the realization that the 'good ending" was the enactment of what would happen if my prayers actually worked. I pray for a miracle. I pray that Paxton survives. I know it doesn't work but it's what gives me comfort and the movie showed me how it would play out. I may have not found the one true religion but in the end I was praying with Paxton.

[@hamedhosseini4938]

SPOILER: Unfortunately I still do 100% believe she died at the end. 1. Butterflys don't come out in winter (given the crazy snowstorm last night). 2. In a sense she reached her wish of being reincarnated as a butterfly so the moment it disappeared, one can make a guess that she was the butterfly.

[@lewisbingham3758]

This one ending is a paradox of life. Creating a lot of mystery and uncertainty. The one certain thing is Mr. Reid is an asshole for torturing sister missionaries.

[@nickoletcampbell4657]

that last part...lol. Hes a real creep and weirdo.

[@danielkeizer4174]

A predicament they wouldn't have been in had they kept their religion to themselves. The irony of coming to convince someone you are completely correct and know the truth and to see things your way and getting forced to stand by those convictions or die by them is apparently is lost on you. He tested their faith. To it's extremes. They should be thankful. He showed them god. If he exists that is.

[@billhancock8881]

@@danielkeizer4174 lol, you're kind of a creep, aren't you? Do you ever think maybe when people are listening to you they are just being polite and can't stand you?

[@lizzie4879]

​@danielkeizer4174 "they should be thankful" People like you probably have bodies in your basement

[@benco804]

​@danielkeizer4174 so if you want to share something you love with someone that means they can torture you!? Nice take bro! What a stupid comment!

[@xo0zombiegirl0ox]

He questioned her if her father was in her life because of the ability to have 'daddy issues' which he knew in some way is related to intimate relationships as he saw the scar of the contraceptive on her arm. A clear sign of being led astray religiously. He knew it was looked down on in their religion so he knew she was not as devout as the other girl and would question a male authority figure/elder

[@Petrichorus-]

What???? This comment makes no sense. Why do people relate women having sex with their dads in any way 🤢 yall are sick. Women can interact with men UNRELATED to their fathers existing. Men love to say women have daddy issues but then are silent about the fact they’re raised by single mothers and have daddy issues themselves.

[@PutTheCookieDown]

Paxton died. The ending is a hallucination. Great thought provoking movie. 8.9/10

[@chamoisauce7491]

it also plays on the whole idea of the movie believing or not. if you believe in god and miracles then barnes came back killed him and she escaped. if you don’t believe then she just dies. really good movie enjoyed it

[@fehyndana7725]

@@chamoisauce7491it's not necessarily a miracle though, it happens sometimes that people who are presumably dead wake up again

[@gmansid3576]

⁠@@fehyndana7725Not usually after having their throat cut and their arm mutilated.

[@CarlosSpicyweiner-iv8mq]

honestly if its left up to the audience to figure out then its terrible story telling.

[@chamoisauce7491]

@ not it’s not. not when that’s the intention such a crybaby.

[@lauriemadsen9051]

Former Mormon here. It would not be weird for a Mormon to say, "I'd like to send a sign to my loved ones in the form of a butterfly," but it would be weird for a true believing Mormon to use the word "reincarnate." Mr. Reed, being intimately acquainted with Mormon doctrine (and maybe even with Mormon culture), would have picked up on that. He was also smart enough to know that Paxton's fawning response was actually a smart survival tactic (like when she chose the "disbelief" door), and didn't necessarily indicate stupidity (although I think he was also smart enough to know that it would make her less of a threat to him and his plans, at least in the short-term). I'm not convinced Mr. Reed's goal was to indoctrinate Paxton into being a believer (although he certainly could have been planning to ultimately imprison, torture, "break", and control her). I think what he actually wanted was to watch and see if she would figure it out; why else would he have put the key in her pocket?? He anticipated that she would make and test her hypothesis, and end up in the room with the cages. And from that moment of trapped hopelessness, he could continue to break her spirit even further. Or... Or, wild theory incoming, maybe he expected that she might attack him, and he wanted to test that theory as well. He intentionally placed the letter opener in the living room, just as he intentionally placed the matches within reach, to keep them at the top of the stairs longer during the body switch. Maybe he had a way to listen in on their conversation in the cellar about "magic underwear" being the code word, or he had just figured it out from the way Barnes had used/emphasize the code word earlier, and he used it in that moment deliberately. Maybe because he planned to subdue her physical attack, thus helping break her spirit and increase her sense of helplessness even further. Or maybe, because he's a sicko, and he gets off on being physically attacked before subduing/raping a woman. Or maybe, and this is the most "out there" theory so far, because he was ready to end it all, or at least take a gamble on ending his own twisted, miserable existence. In this theory, he really did predict and control it all, even down to his own possible/likely death. In this case, she didn't really exert free will in stabbing Mr. Reed...which is a pretty dark thought, but definitely in-line with the themes the movie was exploring. (And maybe when he slit Paxton's throat, it was not only his final act of control, but also a mercy, as slowly dying from a gut wound is insanely painful.) Your theory about polygamous wives seems way off, and way less likely than just the fact that he only imprisoned women because they poised less of a physical threat to him, and/or it was a psycho-sexual thing. Lots of serial killer men have only killed women. Mr. Reed cared about control, not arcane polygamy doctrines, and wouldn't have bothered to formally marry the women as wives. The reason he brought up polygamy earlier, was because it tends to be the number one deal breaker/ source of cognitive dissonance in shattering Mormon women's faith (believe me, I'm friends with lots of ex-mormon women!) The biggest issue with the good ending that you didn't elaborate on, was that it was daytime outside. It had been night, and not enough time had elapsed for it to be morning. Also, the fact that it seemed like a pretty unlikely escape feat, given Paxton's mortal wound. And finally, her phone still showed "no signal" after exiting the house. Lots of clues, arguably too many, that she was in fact dying or dead. But then again, there are many, many clues to disprove religious beliefs that people stubbornly, hopefully cling to anyway, so maybe that was also the point.

[@tamidawn8383]

To me (inactive Mormon woman here), I saw the caged women as his polygamous wives. And to me, being a polygamous wife is a fate worse than death. Reed himself said they all CHOSE to be there, and that sounds awfully familiar to me.

[@Cooe.]

​​@@tamidawn8383If you were part of a polygamist marriage you weren't part of the LDS church. 🤷 And there ARE women who legitimately choose to live a polygamist lifestyle as batshit as that might appear to most. Who are we to tell other people what they can/can't do? As long as everyone is a contenting adult, it's none of our damn business.

[@phixxxer11]

Oh please.😅😅😅😅

[@kingpinballer242]

TLDR @lauriemadsen is a dork

[@BrowneVisuals]

Movie was good but no unbeliever will ever waiver my firm faith in my creator & religion. Athiests can suck one 😂

[@kenkearsey9239]

Loving the debate and really opened my eyes! Yes of course, the Prophets are Mr. Reed's wives!! Now I understand the Hubby mug!

[@kwclass09]

Imagine the Horror of haveing not 1, not 2, but 4 versions of monopoly in your house. Pure terror, great writing.

[@MrVacca]

Officially joined your club! Your voice is so soothing. Looking forward to future deep dives and to watch your previous work.

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

Welcome welcome! Thank you!

[@nickoletcampbell4657]

yes, his voice has so much character.

[@kuoyulu6714]

The directors make this ending so people will talk about it, just like how they want us to, we are control by the movie, doing exactly what it wants us to do, crazy…

[@cherrymmon]

When at the end of the film she escapes from the house, they show the phone which still has no signal even though she is outside. This suggests that she is actually still in the basement and hallucinating.

[@BrandynQuigley]

@@cherrymmon assuming you believe Mr reed about metal walls. You have no reason to believe him. There may have just been no reception up there. Did we see metal walls?

[@SandraDodd]

@@BrandynQuigley wrote "Did we see metal walls?" Swearing someone did or did not see something is another theme of the movie. Faith that there was metal? Swearing "truth" about an illusion or trick? :-) Metal or no metal doesn't matter; their phones did not work. Belief or nonbelief (in metal, or anything else)... leads to the same place.

[@BrandynQuigley]

@SandraDodd that's what I'm saying. In this case, out of the house. Do you believe they're dead? Or did they escape. There's evidence for the latter while the former requires belief in an afterlife.

[@jewlliankaplan3946]

@@BrandynQuigleyNo it doesn’t, she was just hallucinating.

[@SandraDodd]

@@BrandynQuigley asked me "Do you believe they're dead?" Belief and Disbelief lead to the same place. 🙂 The actors are still alive. The characters are alive for most of the film; every time, they're alive again. "...the former requires belief in an afterlife." Seeing people dressed up and enacting a screenplay doesn't require belief in the afterlife. We don't need to believe in Mordor for the ring to go into the crack of doom. (But really, it's fiction, and that ring exists within a built world. Same with "Heretic," and life, death and belief.)

[@bleach8888]

I like to think theres a 3rd possibility. I dont think she revived to kill him, she may have just been unconscious, and woke up and used the last of her strength to kill him. She then died for good. No one actually checked to see if she died, and people can survive while going unconscious to preserve themselves until help. So her body may have done that and when she heard her friend and him crying she woke up and decided to push her body ignoring the pain knowing she was gonna die anyway.

[@marianaarreola2189]

Alison Brotha was disemboweled, nearly decapitated and still dragged herself to find help

[@onuhrita5009]

I like this ending better

[@Boukouvalas1979]

This feel highly unlikely. Apart from the neck tear, her hand war torn open. When I watched the finale I thought "this is bull*. She can't be still alive". That being said, that was my take of the scene. That she was somehow still alive. I just didn't think it was believable (pun unintended!) So, hm... that another level to look at "disbelieve"!

[@lindamcclain5569]

So this is like , the life of Pi , you can believe or not believe. I choose one. =) I chose the same in Life of Pi. The tiger was real. Paxton lived.

[@hamedhosseini4938]

Spoiler: It's impossible that she survived. If you even know, butterflies DO not survive or come out in winter. It was her hallucinations per her wish of being reincarnated as a butterfly upon her ascent.

[@ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΣΚΑΛΙΤΣΟΣ]

All died noone won

[@KaiMax_23]

@@hamedhosseini4938 It can take days to die from an abdominal wound, either through infection or blood loss. Where she was stabbed didn't indicate it was in her liver or any immediately essential organs.

[@WesPDavison3]

I really appreciate your analysis here. It seems to me that the second, “true ending” is likely because in all reality, she did indeed die in that basement (whether killed by Reed or bled out during prayer from the earlier quite size able stab wound). I think the butterfly and snow was the “afterlife”, but I found the power both in the real depiction and analysis of this film that a lot of life is just so meaningless, violent, confusing, even mundane and nonsensical, and though she knows that the prayers and faith really do nothing, Sis Paxton stated that she still prays because “isn’t it beautiful that we focus on others”. I think that was (and to be honest the point of faith) to focus not on ourselves but ourselves in context of the community of fellow humans. I really love her point at the end, because even if she likely did die, she had the “final laugh” (the stronger moral standing at the end, she was and always will be about others), whereas Reed was about control to prove something to himself. I’m not a religious person, but I really loved the point, that even if prayer doesn’t really do anything, it’s the gesture of thought and love towards another that is the point. That is the love in her soul. He couldn’t defeat that in her.

[@shasha9348]

This was the best explanation!!! I feel like you ive listened to others and i feel as though they rush to the end to explain the butterfly by passing the build up

[@Jackie-nt6tq]

I wonder how religious/faithful people would interpret the ending of the movie compared to nonreligious people. Paxton herself says she prays not necessarily because she believes but because it’s beautiful. Maybe the real ending doesn’t matter, the way we think about it does. You CHOOSE to believe or not believe-we will never really know until we ourselves die.

[@anakinskywalker2142]

Im catholic and i find mormonism to be a dumb cult. The only reason i defend my religion aside from others is based on historically devout catholics that performed miracles. But if the first ending is the real one then i like to interpet that is not the belief in the girls religion that made the miracle and escape, is the belief in God itself. And if the second ending is real then that doesn't make it an atheist one since it shows the miracle that is the human brain itself. The idea that the brain projects her these images just shows the complexity of the world and the mind. I dont think an explosion like the big bang could make such a miracle possible, the brain just like computers had to be designed. So the movie questions religion but it doesn't deny the existance of God.

[@lemueljr1496]

I was a practicing Mormon and am still a scholar of Mormon Studies. My mind immediately went to the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision, wherein Joseph claims that early in the spring of 1820 he went to a grove of trees to pray about which church to join. There he claims to have been attacked by a demonic presence, which gives way to a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. This story varies widely in the records from Smith's life, which I'll just mention because they aren't totally relevant, but if we interpret the ending with her having survived, the scene parallels the Smith story very well. Paxton survives a demonic ordeal, she finds herself in a grove, which looks to be winter, but considering how green the movie started may actually be early spring after a spring squall, and she has a divine vision of peace in the form of a butterfly. This is kind of a good nod too to the white salamander hoax, which you can Google, but... I kinda thought of it as a nice nod to the benefits of faith, or how people have their faith built to by the hardships they endure. Mormons have a lot of slogans, but one of the most popular amongst missionaries is "Endure to the End." I can't help but put on my old believer hat with this movie, and read this as a profoundly uplifting message that is surprisingly very LDS, considering the writer/directors aren't members. I immediately told my friends still in the church to see it, as well as my nonMormon friends who struggle to understand what it's like to go through a faith transition.

[@BrandynQuigley]

Religion is irrelevant, in the end good intentions prevail and rest at peace.

[@producedby3am344]

My ex is Mormon and I can’t wait for her to watch and tell me what she thinks

[@producedby3am344]

@@lemueljr1496lds is the most absolutely bullshit religion that exists. I mean Joseph seed? Polygamy? The fucking tablets or whatever? wtf🤣🤣

[@TheTongueTwisler]

I like to think the "good ending" is what actually happened. I like to think that Sister Barnes coming back to life was a "true miracle", a kind of resurrection to show the faith the two girls had, and the love of Sister Barnes to come back and save her friend. Mr. Reed's act was a magic trick, like stated earlier in the film, but what the Sisters had was the "real deal". At least, that's what I like to think. Even if, like religion, I only believe it's happening to give myself some kind of comfort about Sister Paxton surviving.

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

I wonder if there is even some kind of meta meaning in that, we want to believe it because we WANT her to survive, it comforts us. But as Mr Reed says "even though all the evidence points to the contrary". Cos I know on paper, TRUE ENDING makes sense. But I REALLY want to believe the good one.

[@lucykinski]

I don’t like to think that’s the case though. What about the other Sister? How is it a good ending when one of them died? I feel like if you can watch this film and take from it what you did well then there’s no hope

[@TheTongueTwisler]

@@MadMorphMovieClub Yes! I think that's very intentionally the case! I really loved this movie and its messages and meanings :)

[@TheTongueTwisler]

@@lucykinski Well, maybe the "better ending" instead of "good ending". It's the good ending in the sense that they both didn't die, even though it's upsetting that Sister Barnes had to die :/

[@BrandynQuigley]

She didn't come back to life, she never died. She moved on the ground before they left that room, and there was precedent for her being able to operate on low blood pressure from the taco bell story.

[@pearldiy]

Not even a minute into this I was so confused why your voice sounded so familiar, as I was pretty sure this was the first of your videos I have watched. Then you mentioned the audiobooks to help sleep and realized I listen to you are the person I listen to nearly every night lol.

[@stillfoxxy]

I like that they added the additional man. It shows they had trust in him for guidance and approval, but in the end, he was just as gullible or naive if not more so than them. Basically, there is not always a "knight in shining armor to save you" as a woman. So you best have your wits about you I suppose. I liked it. It was subtle having been a woman in different unfortunate circumstances and watching men not be the protectors as I was brought to "believe". Lots of interesting and subtle takes on varying aspects of belief. I dig it. Edit: Subbed & liked 👍🏼

[@AspenCharmKitchen]

I must say, I’ve seen a few of these recap videos and yours is by far the best!!! Thank you!

[@deec75]

I deliberately watched your video before going to see the film. I know it sounds weird, but I believe this enhances my enjoyment of the film itself. Sounds very much like it’s worth watching more than once. Great review👍🏾

[@taurus_beauty11-11]

Right! I watched it last night🌃Only to be watching it over again!😩

[@chineduobuekwe]

To each their own but going in blind just made it so breathtaking! I had zero expectations and damn was I wowed! I do agree it’s worth a rewatch! So much to unpack

[@mariacaballero116]

Same here. I’m watching this video before watching the movie for better understanding.

[@BrandynQuigley]

You rob yourself of developing your own thoughts and perspective.

[@producedby3am344]

Can’t think for yourself, just like religious people

[@LarryXLR]

Plot Twist: Reid is actually Joseph Smith back from the dead to test them.

[@soxpeewee]

Lolz he wasn't marrying them

[@erinnadia0409]

lol that would be some shit my dad would say! He's one of those Christian's who says dinosaur bones are on earth to test our faith, he also said the titanic hit that ice berg because Jack and Rose had sex before marriage 🥲😅🤣

[@1marcelo]

Joseph would have kept both of them alive ;)

[@HoLd_My_Beer_Thanks]

Hugh Grant is getting better and better as he grows older - Brilliant actor 👍

[@janechoy2073]

I was quite surprised at how suddenly Paxton became smart. i think Paxton actually died in the basement just because it's the more realistic / belieavable outcome imo. The butterfly and no cell services were what tipped me to this grim interpretation.

[@3287brandon]

I have an unpopular opinion: I hate when filmmakers leave ambiguous endings. I came to observe a conclusive story crafted and well executed; I didn't come to formulate my own interpretation of the ending. These types of endings are divisive and almost lazy.

[@Georgino893]

So glad I’m not alone on this! 😂 I want a damn ending not work 😂😂

[@RubyIsoTek]

I respect this opinion, but don't go watch a psychological horror then, these are KNOWN for doing this lol

[@Galebreth]

​@RubyIsoTek honestly, French films too

[@MsSonali1980]

Wow, Brandon. I understand that it is not a type of story telling you might enjoy. But call it in this case (almost) lazy, is a bit ironic considering you don't want to put in the effort to think about what the ending might mean. You can also just accept the ending as is - no need to stimulate the good ole braincells. In the end (for us both) it's not that deep, it's just a movie. People can have different opinions about it.

[@lucykinski]

I agree. I studied philosophy at Uni. I know and torture myself about all the endless possibilities in life. Just give me a film with a solid ending please.

[@americanwaterwayscruiselin5713]

I found this film quite profound in its dialogue between Mr. Reed and the two young missionaries. Mr Reed having gone down a very deep rabbit hole in his quest for the true religion had become so lost and incomplete that he resorted to sociopathy. The two young missionaries with their gift of faith and acceptance of belief, find themselves in a horrific situation held hostage by the sociopathic Mr. Reed. The ending with the surviving girl comforting herself in prayer and drawing in what seems to show a short lived moment of a remorseful Mr. Reed. He has a momentary experience of enlightenment that his lifelong study and pursuits have led him nowhere near the truth. The simple act of belief and prayer from the dying girl is all the truth there is and the miracle of her dead friend intervening. So I took away from the ending that people that have to dig so deep for the truth about faith and spirituality need only look within. It isn’t complicated. It just is. And one can get very lost and farther away from the truth of God’s simple message and love by persisting with doubt rather than accepting the beauty of faith and belief and the internal and eternal peace it brings to our lives.

[@AlyceMalyce]

Seeing the way a man just fights so hard to prove his point that their religion is a copy. I had some Mormon Missionaries who wanted me to say that the Book of Mormon was the truth of God. I simply asked what is the basis of your religious beliefs? They told me faith, was the basis. As such I spoke to them, I refuse to agree with any one religion being the one truth, God simply asks us to have Faith. This movie is about Faith, and how strong is your Faith. But also not to disregard our own survival. Indeed, she's behaving like many women, we smile and laugh, when we are uncomfortable around a man, doing our best to placate. Oftentimes, when in a placating behavior, we will indeed make ourselves seem less intelligent with the hope it will help us to be able to find a way to escape. Placating behavior is often misunderstood in media as girls going from being dumb to sharp as a whip because there is little attention paid to the facial and body telegraphing of discomfort and mistrust. Here there is but it seems quick not potentially long enough for many to realize in a first watch through.

[@dirkeaton6905]

You had me at “what’s this movie about? We will have to start at the beginning”. Gold

[@PabloSansEgo]

I think the ending is really a lot deeper than both of the endings you explored and there’s a lot of evidence to suggest this other alternate meaning.. I think the final scenes - the butterfly disappearing suddenly, the phone showing “no signal” and the fact the weather completely clears up from what it was just a few scenes earlier alludes directly to the Simulation theory that Reeds comes up with at the table (even spitballing) and how he explains to her that only in death will she “move through” to reality leaving the simulation. Yes, he’s improvising when doing this as she later calls him out for -but in the process I think he indirectly explains the whole point of the movie. That is, control by simulation, the whole thing being a Simulation and upon her dying, the butterfly glitching out along with all the other subtle signs suggest she’s doing just that, closing up the simulation.

[@brennensorah4656]

She obviously died and went to heaven at the end because there are no time jumps. They went in right before sunset and she gets out about 2 hours later and it’s broad day light

[@BeachMaster]

It was a 2 hour movie but you can clearly tell during the movie that more time was moving faster, specifically after the Morman Elder came looking for them at night in the midst of the storm

[@aszul7750]

Bro. You think watch time equals time in the story?

[@brennensorah4656]

@@aszul7750 it does. Unless suggested otherwise

[@JohnGeorgeHill]

One thing, if that many women went missing in that neck of the woods, people would be looking for them.

[@SandraDodd]

When they went in it was raining, and when she got out it wasn't. "Broad daylight" might be overstating it, but it was lighter (maybe without rain clouds clouds, if you want continuity, even though it might not be "real." "This is not real" was part of the frame by then.

[@LtScarecrow87]

When I moved to Idaho, I remember seeing an LDS institute on campus and said “WHAT THE FUCK WAS THE POINT OF UTAH! I THOUGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN THEM” All jokes aside, I love my LDS friends and feel that they are some of the best religious people I’ve ever met

[@igoldenknight2169]

Let me say this… if she was dead after the basement scene then WHY would they show a hallucination butterfly inside a hallucination of being alive? My opinion that's stupid. I think its a mixture of these “two endings”, don't box them in. The butterfly is a hallucination, why? Because she is dying, still alive but dying. The snow outside isn't a hallucination because it was already snowing before that scene. And Sis Barnes not actually being dead is perfect because its symbolic of a miracle and she even killed Reed with wood and nails, symbolic of the crucifixion. I wouldn't call it a “good” ending either. Because either way it is uncertain if she will survive even after escape. She could just die right there on the snow

[@lauriemadsen9051]

Because when she has the hallucination of a butterfly in the hallucination, that's the moment the hallucination begins to crack, that she realizes she's hallucinating and it's not real, and perhaps the final disassociative moment before true death.

[@igoldenknight2169]

@ I would agree if it was in her perspective but it wasn't, it was from the audience perspective signifying to us the audience that she was hallucinating the butterfly.

[@gokcenakdag8189]

Because hallucinations and dreams don't make sense. The brain is weird and crazy. None of my dreams make sense. People out here are saying her why would she not hallucinate a better situation, but you can't control your dreams at all!

[@1marcelo]

@@igoldenknight2169 If I remember the take well, it is the opposite of what you are saying. The butterfly is shown from the point of view of the girl but when the girl is shown, the butterfly is not there.

[@igoldenknight2169]

@ yes. However when the girl is shown that’s our view. Our perspective not hers.

[@ghadatuffaha3004]

Is it weird that I thought from the beginning that the girls should’ve stayed in the living room and waited till the door opens in the morning and not go down these two doors if they didnt feel comfortable doing so??

[@cosmic4795]

Then they'd be no movie lol

[@reginalannister2262]

Yeah, no way I'm going into mrder/rpe basement. Nothing's improved by it. Sure, he could've unalived them right in that room or dragged/pushed them, but I'd rather fight him upstairs. You won't get better chance downstairs.

[@monicachuidian-riveracalderon]

Awesome recap.I watched the full movie & it wasn't scary, this film is more of a mystery, I love mystery movies. 😊

[@Sugarbeansupreme]

Wow great deep dive, Morph! I adore media like this, the what ifs and 'did this really happen', and exploring what happens when we're dying. There's a lot of great stories out there like that. I highly recommend reading Going Bovine by Libba Bray. It's a great YA novel that explores those themes.

[@austineunice8881]

Another interesting foreshadowing moment was when Paxton was ranking her fast food places of choice, when she said rally’s, she was corrected by Barnes that in this are they have checkers, and there was another fast food chain she named that she was corrected in but I can’t remember it. But it’s just another hint about the iterations of religion this time as fast food chain names

[@AM-rl6mq]

Good point. Kinda like how we used the term "same difference" when we were younger. "Same difference" with religion.

[@thegrandcricket]

The other chain they mentioned was Hardee's/Carl's Jr. The chain is known as Hardee's in the East, and Carl's Jr. in the West.

[@nes_journals]

I saw the elder as being their 'prayer' to be saved. They think their prayers are going to be answered by God but they don't. Maybe that's why the Elder is portrayed in the way he is in the movie?

[@thepeaksandthetroughs]

After Barnes has her throat cut, see is laying out on the floor, the movies focus moves onto Reed and Paxton. A couple of multi-angled shots later I noticed Barnes wasn't dead, she showed movement after having a cut to her throat. I like the more obvious and pleasant ending with Paxton surviving. As for the butterfly ? Butterflies don't live in wintertime, the insect has certain symbolic references throughout history.

[@gaiasluvr947]

Something me and my sister both noticed in the theater was that Barnes moved a little when Paxton went back upstairs and into the first basement from her original passed out position.

[@Pamela-mb6bj]

I think there is an entire layer of complexity and insight that is not being discussed and that is the symbolism, the use of colors, stairs and doors to represent chakras, pineal gland, use of the 3 nails to represent possibly the father/son/holy ghost that hit Mr. Reed right between the eyes at death and one's personal internal spiritual journey of each of the characters. It is a much more layered and complex story.

[@EFergDindrane]

I think they were going for two possibilities, two doors: belief or disbelief. We'll all end up in the same place, no matter what we make of this movie, but we do get to choose how we'll get there.

[@elijahcohen8791]

I don’t think that the “true” ending seems very likely. First of all, it makes no sense that a butterfly implies her own death; why would she turn into a butterfly on how own hand? Second of all, it is potentially reasonable that Barnes didn’t “resurrect” but just didn’t totally bleed out and got up with one final burst of energy. To me, it is more likely that the butterfly disappearing is a difference between the ideal “religious” ending with a reincarnated Barnes wishing Paxton goodbye and a more “scientific” ending with the butterfly being just a wish for Paxton that doesn’t exist. Imo, either way it seems unlikely that Paxton didn’t survive.

[@gmansid3576]

Only the ‘true’ ending holds any plausibility. Some will prefer the miraculous ending though, it certainly provides comforting hope that someone at least survived the horror house.

[@RhapsodyinRed]

Very exciting for me to realize you're behind Down to Sleep channel, been listening to that for over a year now. I had NO idea you had other channels until this video, and I've enjoyed several of your movie club videos before I realized too. Just delightful.

[@MadMorphMovieClub]

That's me! Always a fun surprise when people recognise me suddenly on gaming or movie stuff lol

[@lewisbingham3758]

In my opinion, it’s not two endings, but one ending. Hallucinations and reality in one beautiful paradox noticed they didn’t say too much about Buddhism or Hinduism, because this would’ve led you to think more than one for one true religion Hinduism is polytheistic. Buddhism is also poly polytheistic and its nature, I also think it’s important to know if the defiant one was the one who chose belief she’s not just smart, but faithful

[@BrandynQuigley]

@@lewisbingham3758 spiritualism does not equal religion. Spiritualism isn't a method of control. Notice religion exists in colonizers and spiritualism comes from the indigenous.

[@andykaufman7620]

Hollywood needs to cast more woman in leading roles, but do so for roles that are about being horrible people. Imagine Jason or Freddy Kruger or Michael Myers as a woman. Imagine if this movie Heretic were cast with Hugh Grant's part as a woman. Changes it up, but she then would be the same character doing all those same things. Those are the roles we need to see woman cast in.

[@griffitsbatmansuit]

This is the reason i love watching your deep dives, and to be very honest I'm sure the second ending is the best one and it's the fact that we still don't have a clear answer till the end, as a religious person myself I've heard so much about resurrections, heaven, hell but I'm still uncertain if anything is even real and even if it is, then how will i actually react when i experience it. But anyways i genuinely love media that makes us question ourselves, our beliefs, our reality instead of giving us a black and white answer.

[@christanmartinez1238]

I think you can look at the endings as “belief” or “disbelief”. Not necessarily “good” or “true”. By saying one ending is true, you’re putting your own interpretation as the definitive ending. Something the film criticizes is the idea of certainty. I think the film clearly makes a point for the audience to choose what ending they believe or do not believe happened. If you believe Paxton escaped, you have belief. If you don’t think Paxton escaped and died from her wounds, you have disbelief.

[@mylesgriffin3985]

I think she did get away but the butterfly itself was the hallucinations

[@KimberlySmith-p5t]

Best movie I’ve seen so far this year. Thought provoking. Loved it !!!

[@randywhite327]

There's a third interpretation that I like better than either of the ones you mentioned. When I left the movie, I was considering the two interpretations you mentioned, but neither of them seemed very satisfactory to me. However, it struck me that it might not be that the last 10 minutes that are Sister Paxton's dying hallucination, but that the last 40 minutes are Sister Barnes' dying hallucination. That would explain how a frail old woman was able to open a heavy metal door, throw a body down the chute, close it and reposition the table, all without making any noise to alert the girls. Realistically, she couldn't - it was just imagined. It also better explains Paxton's sudden courage and wisdom - it's not actually her, it's Barnes' psyche coming through the imagined version of her. In this case, we don't know what ultimately happens to Paxton or Reed, but it explains that many of the contrived things in the second half of the movie aren't actually bad writing, they're "bad dreaming". 🙂 I was disappointed in this film's writing because it pretends to examine how religion controls people but the antagonist is just a self-important thug. When Reed asks, "Why do you let me?", Paxton's response should have been, "We don't. You didn't give us a chance to leave. You just locked the door. You didn't give Sister Barnes a chance to choose. You just killed her." The type of control exercised by Reed was ultimately force. It's far less interesting than control exercised through manipulation. The writers of this movie seem to specialize only in "run from the monster movies" where the threat is physical violence (e.g. The Quiet Place, 65, Haunt). I probably shouldn't be surprised they couldn't write a more cerebral film.

[@musiq3109]

I also believed this interpretation. I hope more people can discuss this

[@WhitePantsClub]

“Self-important thug” - you just described every cult leader. So the writer got his point across.

[@EV1LDE4D]

I have maintained that the secret to life is all about PERSPECTIVES, and this film provides enough for an entire dissertation covering the palpable subject

[@malkam.7543]

Did anyone else think that barnes wasn't totally dead? Only Mr. Reed took her pulse and declared her dead. But a wound that clean could have stuck back together and Barnes could have clung on to life for a while. Then used the last of her strength to kill Mr. Reed. I think this might be part of it, because she hid the board without telling sister Paxton, just as there was the noise of Mr. Reed on the stairs, a direction sister Paxton had already turned.

[@Jh3454-df5vm]

honestly didnt know anything about this before i saw in theater.....had no expectations. Wow i have to say i was hooked this took me by surprise.

[@bh8365]

Thanks for this analysis. I now have a greater appreciation of this film and will watch it again.

[@SimlisaJ]

That's also a good life skill to have learning to play cool under pressure. Go along with everything while working to outsmart who's holding u captive

[@Sharonangel85]

Perfect timing. Watched it yesterday

[@elainegmorrison]

OMG don't tell me they both died! At any rate, I was sure the leader who came to check up on the girls knew he was not to go into that house because he had a sense. He wasn't a woman who only came into houses where a woman was present. He didn't like that guy, needed to save himself, and would be back with reinforcements from town. I didn't feel the people missing the girls deflated the tension. It got us hoping, then we worried if he was taken as well there'd be no one to bring help. He did the right thing to leave but he also didn't find the bikes which had been removed from the fence.

[@coyoteclockworkstudios3140]

I like Life of Pi better. Faith is the better story. And I say this as pretty much an atheist at this point. The guy presented a false dilemma by controlling everything. Choice in the matter was removed from the minute the girls step inside. Therefore, whatever choices they made would have been under duress. The whole "observing a thing changes the behavior of a thing", which would prove he's not God. At least not in the "existing outside of time" sense. Giving the girls false choices only presents the illusion that they're in control by being able to make a decision. Which is not faith, by definition, because faith successfully creates the illusion/fools you into thinking your decisions matter or that you're in control. A mere mortal man is failing to do that because, again, all of this insane shit you're pulling is a false dilemma and she can see through your illusions. In other words, she has no faith in him. I hope for the Good Ending. I think the Bad Ending is, statistically speaking, more likely. And as someone who had a Mormon best friend for 14 years, the women are groomed to be victimized by the church.

[@SpeekyGeeky]

I believe you are correct on the true ending...she even crawls out through the faux window, which ties in nicely to what was noted earlier in that it was something similarly foreshadowed with the moth not being able to find the REAL exit so is now accepting the artificial light in its place...it's not just about power, but about the things we BELIEVE are true...just like belief is needed for religion, it is ALSO utilized in what we BELIEVE happens to us after we are dead...she desperately wanted for a miracle to happen, and so her mind allowed her to believe that this is what happened...as well as the audience who was more inclined to believe in miracles existing believed that her being alive was the true ending. Which is what makes this film such beautiful art, that it allowed for different folks from different perspectives to bring their own lived experiences in with them and walk away with very differing interpretations. The film ultimately gives the audience a path and allows the audience the ability to CHOOSE which is right for them just like the movie itself did all along. Great video btw, I appreciate you taking the time to put these all together!

[@Joy-qw3wm]

Thanks for the review and explanation.I saw the first trailer and wanted so bad to see it!! (Finally saw it this afternoon_).LOved the movie ,and especially Hugh Grant in a villainous role!!.

[@user-bq6yg3gv9p]

Thank you for this synopsis. I don't go to/or watch many movies but was quite intigued by the trailer. Now my curiosity is satisfied. So glad to have found this channel. Also, I appreciated all the comments.

[@UncleMoke476]

Personally, I'm not a fan of ambiguous endings. They left clues that lead to one ending or the other, but neither really make sense when you take all of it into account. And the ending being in her head is just the "It was all a dream!" twist which is just bad writing.

[@dcabral00]

Thank you, I enjoyed your review. My take on it is extremely oversimplified, and one that I haven't seen mentioned often. Basically, it's about how religious institutions place their believers in vulnerable situations. I mean, going door to door, exposing them to strangers, for the sake of increasing their flock.

[@soxpeewee]

There are some plot issues with the movie I noticed having grown up in the LDS faith 1)If you're assaulted like these girls were, you'd immediately report to your stake president and reschedule a visit 2)Most women missionaries don't go door to door 3)Visiting a potential convert you have a file and knowledge of the family ie number of people there, names, etc. So Mr. Reed and so called wife would be known and on paper 4)First meetings with potential converts have members of the priesthood not sisters Etc etc

[@LeviClay]

I loved the film, but it really went off the rails in the last act. My wife and I talked about it a lot (which I'm sure they wanted) but we felt they'd written this really tense horror film, and that it didn't need the cartoonish madman twist. Almost like it was written a little more grounded, but then the studio wanted some more violence to be added. Barnes was dead... she was dead.... it's too much of a silly plot move to have her come back to life just because the writers had written themselves into a corner where they needed SOME way to save Paxton. He's a maniac, none of the supernatural stuff was real, all carefully planned. It was real. Barnes coming back to life was just lazy.

[@tuckerfreeman6076]

Crazy thing is that this movie makes you a question everything including religion and religious beliefs. Which makes you a Heretic.

[@honeymoonavenue97]

The second you said that question Reed asked to Sophie Thatcher’s character- it’s for sure a thing that he’s her “dead” dad.

[@bearscenario5800]

I was hoping you would cover this!

[@panicmonarcy7287]

One thing I havent heard mentioned yet is the moment in the film where barnes notices a butterfly/moth on the window. I find this to be a foreshadowing moment of them ending up trapped in the house. And considering paxton then goes on to mention she wants to be reincarnated as a butterfly. Leads me to believe this is the first clue that this character doesn't end up escaping.

[@JohnGrapes]

10:52 It’s funny that Mr. Reed refers to claims from Zeitgeist about Horus and Mithra because the claims about their similarities to Jesus aren’t even correct. The idea that Horus had the same story as Jesus came from amateur Egyptologist Gerald Massey, whose theories about Horus having 12 disciples, being crucified, resurrected after three days were all false and he is generally not taken seriously by any scholars of Egyptology. And Mithraic beliefs included that he was born from a rock, had a lion-headed man disciple, and there’s no evidence of any of the other claims.

[@anastasis-cm5hw]

It’s just the usual atheist sloppiness about religion. Polytheistic religions don’t claim to be the one true religion at all lol.