A FULL BREAKDOWN of ALL SYMBOLS and THE ENDING of Heretic | EXPLAINED

[@lucasblue20]

Easily one of the most thought-provoking films of the year! Super interested to hear your thoughts and happy to answer your questions, lemme know below

[@bphifer]

Great review man! My thought on the spider man quote and Mr. Reeds response was further evidence of various iterations.

[@lucasblue20]

@bphifer that's an excellent point, it's a clever detail on the iterations theme. I think there was actually one more comic reference later in the film, I forget what Reed referenced, but Paxton mentioned Swamp Thing. It's a really intricate script and super happy you enjoyed the analysis, thank you!!

[@bphifer]

@@lucasblue20 yeah man, you got a new subscriber and I’ve watched several since this one

[@lucasblue20]

@@bphifer thank you so much!! Plenty more content to come!

[@susurradoehk]

What a fantastic breakdown of the film. I’m an active member of the church dedicated and found your analysis spot on.

[@lucasblue20]

This means so much to me, i tried to be as respectful as I could in both directions, so thank you so much for letting me know and being so open to the film and my video

[@HungGarEarthBender]

I thought in the movie, Paxton said she would land on the tip of their finger and specifically says "not the hand, but the finger." I only saw it once so I may be wrong but I took the butterfly landing on her hand at the end to be very subjective. She could take it as a sign that the butterfly was her companion Barnes but it didn't land on her finger tip or even her finger, it was only her hand so it could also be taken as a coincidence. I also noticed that there was snow on the ground, and butterflies are not around in the winter so I also took that as a sign that this might be imagined and not reality.

[@DAMON409]

Or somebody screwed up

[@Jns908]

Nah this was very intentional I believe. It's shown in two seperate shots. In the first, the butterfly is clearly on her hand and not her finger, but in the second shot it looks like it may actually be on the finger after all. Showing how a single event can lead to different interpretations, depending on your perspective. There is just enough wiggle room in that second shot for a believer to say "see, it's a sign", even though the first shot very clearly shows it is on her hand, not her finger.

[@easyenetwork2023]

@@DAMON409No, I think this film was too well thought out.

[@DAMON409]

@@easyenetwork2023 badly written. It didn't know if it was a horror or a mystery.

[@kung-foo4721]

But Paxton was very specific when telling Barnes and Reade about the butterfly; she said something like “not my head or my arms but on my fingers, right on my fingertips so I KNOW” If that’s the case why didn’t the butterfly land on her fingertips? I mean, Paxton was way too specific for Barnes to just land on her finger!lol. But then again, it’d be a hell of a coincidence if it wasn’t Barnes spirit visiting Paxton. Hmm 🤔

[@petermarton6160]

This is an excellent explanation of Heretic and its most important symbols. Although probably not ALL symbols and symbolism you can find throughout the film. There must be many more, but having seen the film only once, I haven't been able to figure out most of them. There's for example light and darkness, which is clearly symbolic and goes through the film in various forms: electric lights, lamps, candles, a kerosene lamp and some matches. Darkness in the house and in the dungeon probably symbolising lack of knowledge and/or faith, while light sources symbolising knowledge, wisdom, faith, or just hope like a few matches in the dark and creepy dungeon. And there is the presence of water, especially leaking dripping water on all levels of the house. Must be symbolic if it happens to be everywhere (not just because it's an old and badly maintained house), yet its meaning is obscure to me. If you can find and explain more symbols, please do so in the comments.

[@elizabethjohnson4623]

I appreciated this film in a similar way I appreciated Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass. You go into the film predicting that the writing will favor one side over the other- the "enlightened" atheist vs. the brainwashed religious people, to name a common trope. But pretty quickly you learn that that wasn't the point of the movie at all. The writers didn't paint the missionaries in a bad light- they portrayed them exactly as they would be: frightened young women who have to think quickly to try and save their lives. I appreciated seeing that a lot as an ex-Mormon who has many Mormon loved ones. This movie was a perfect paradigm of the challenging reality that is religious belief.

[@HeyJudie]

It was way worse than Midnight Mass. It didn't land on an even playing field; it didn't even try to. Midnight Mass, to be clear, is my FAVORITE show ever. I was so excited for this movie because I thought it would be similar, and also I was raised in Mormon culture rather than Catholic culture (so I thought it would be empathetic to my experience). The movie shows that Ms. Barnes doesn't believe in what she says she does even though she isn't the suspect (we thought it was Elder Paxton). My issue with the movie that did not occur in midnight mass, is that they show atheism and religion on the same level of power as though atheistic groups come anywhere near to the power and force as religious organizations. Midnight Mass had a better balance, where the message of faith and prayer come through as positive without scapegoating the enemy as being atheism. When Riley and Kate come together, they go through *iterations* of the debate that land squarely in the middle; Kate still has faith but she realizes biology and cosmology play a big role in her belief. In this movie, it's almost like atheism is just as much of a religion and just as much of a harm as all other religions, which is simply not true. I could easily say also that non theism and theism are just as equally believable and just as equally powerful. They aren't equally powerful. That is where the movie goes wrong. I however, appreciate that they show how atheism uses alternative and sometimes terrible idealism that can be just as harmful to women. I think atheism can be harmful to women, as we saw in gamergate. It's a lot to think about. However, atheism itself will never be as powerful or as rich as churches.

[@beyondthefilmfatale145]

I really liked this take. Especially around the ending. The first time I saw it, I assumed Barnes had a rush of adrenaline before dying when she intervened and that Paxton hallucinated the butterfly. I was surprised when someone explained the interpretation that this was all Paxton's dying imagination. And that viewers would only believe it was either a miraculous ending with divine intervention or her dying images. I liked that you weren't black and white and came up with four alternatives.

[@declanrhodes538]

I did have the thought at the end when Sister Barnes comes back to life where I was like, “Oh, yeah that was for sure a miracle. That’s the only word for it after she was lifeless for so long” I don’t consider myself a religious person necessarily, but a miracle is a miracle. I loved this movie and your video! You never cease to amaze me with your analyses! Keep doing great film work brother!

[@troublemethis17]

just fyi, there were 2 endings. the more logical one points to that "miracle" of sister barnes saving sister paxton, the butterfly, the frozen elysian field is basically a death dream as referred to earlier in the film. there was no miracle.

[@joefrog91]

You nailed it. I only had 2 versions of the ending and you gave me 2 more to think about.

[@eddiehartsfield9012]

Outstanding. Really. In particular, your analysis of the prayer scene and how each missionary’s life experience informed their faith. But all of it was great. Those sections just really jumped out to me. Just a few observations I would like to add: Reed’s study and immersion in religion is that of the cult leader. Like a cult leader, Reed is unable to develop a strong true faith: a belief in something that is not provable - something beyond his own experience and his own self. He is unable to experience a leap of faith. Probably because he is looking for a belief that serves him, rather than a belief that would allow him to serve others, one that could help him achieve a collective human experience. He’s like an anti-Joseph Campbell. Instead of comprehending the connections between centuries of human attempts to describe/explain a relationship with or understanding of a greater power, he can only comprehend product and content in what he calls “iterations.“ He focuses only on those who have manipulated religion for their own ends, ignoring those for whom Faith can help them overcome adversity or tribulation (Paxton). His religion, Control, is the religion of the cult leader. In cults, the leader can do whatever they want, break all the rules, and worship by cult members of a greater power is secondary to their worship of the leader. (It’s quite clear that he suspects Joseph Smith to have been a cult leader and nothing more.) One might guess that Reed’s backstory is that of somebody who wanted to be worshiped, to be a cult leader. The photograph of a handsome youthful Reed with his dog hints at somebody who possessed great charisma when young and knew how to use it. He seems most happy when he’s yammering away to his literally captive audience. One assumes that his harem of caged prophetesses are subjected to his word salads on a daily basis. Perhaps Reed didn’t have the patience or the discipline to build his own religion or cult. Many cults do employ physical restraints such as locking people in, caging them, starving them, subjecting them to severe heat or cold, sleep deprivation, etc., but not usually right off the bat. Usually they start with love bombing and the insanity is introduced slowly and carefully. Reed jumps straight to the insanity. Why waste time pretending to love people when you can start controlling them immediately with trickery and restraints? My last observation: all of Reed’s cult members are female. No males. And this takes us back to the fact that, in nearly all religions, females are subjected to the majority of behavioral restrictions and control. On the other hand, cult leaders usually have both male and female acolytes. Yet Reed chooses only females. Because he’s older and could be overwhelmed by a male? Because he’s trying to replicate world religions? Something to ponder.

[@matteozakolski]

I was one of the people that requested this, thank you! I’m on the side that believes that Paxton is alive and that the butterfly is a symbol that moving forward she is going to question her religion

[@robbyroba]

Yeah. I think she survived and contacted the police to save the other prophets.

[@lucasblue20]

Yeah I remember you reaching out, thanks so much! This video definitely was a must, especially considering all of the plausible possible interpretations of the ending like yours, the conversation is endless

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

A year of great horror films mate. The Substance, Speak no Evil and this one

[@lucasblue20]

Yeah man, can’t agree more

[@shawnpierre5755]

Such a fascinating video and absolutely love your breakdown of the ending! Thank you!!

[@lucasblue20]

Super thrilled to hear this, thank you so much, yeah the ending felt so open-ended so I'm really happy to hear that my ideas connected with you

[@nguyenvmy]

YES!!! I was waiting for this and you never miss! Thank you!

[@lucasblue20]

Sooo glad to see you saw it and super happy I could deliver, really means a lot!!

[@johngleue]

The name Barnes has a couple of Old English meanings. I think the variation that means "warrior" fits very well. Paxton's name means peaceful town. I think these names reflect their personalities well. The girls are trapped in Mr. Reed's home which symbolizes a microcosm of the world and it's most important choices. Mr. Reed uses the grand design of the home and his manipulation skills to lead Sister Paxton right to where he wants her. Mr. Reed fancies himself a God. Paxton denying Mr. Reed's offer of a life of servitude to him and jamming a letter opener in his neck is the movie's way of showing that Paxton obtains free will and is not predetermined by Mr. Reed's grand plan. Sister Barnes saving the day with the board that has three nails in it in the shape of a triangle is meant to be left up in the air as to whether this was proof of a miracle or not. The three nails in the board that make a triangle represent the holy trinity (father, son, holy spirit) and potentially twists the interpretation of the scene as an angel killing the false god with a holy weapon. I think the movie does an ok job at showing how belief can be a double-edged sword. In one hand it can make you feel good in seemingly hopeless situations but the consequences of a life of faith are more than just that. It's a decision that puts other's judgments above your own. Obedience is the standard of the good for any religion. It does this by putting dogma above ones own judgment. The end result of any political system that's governed by a religion (theocracies) is authoritarianism. Usually in the form of a dictatorship or monarchy.

[@healgoth]

“dictatorship or monarchy” the leader of which sometimes even claim to be descended from gods themselves (not just Egypt with Ra, there’s also the weird virgin queen stuff with England and in early Mesoamerican cultures and the emperor of Japan’s family also used their ties to the divine to justify their power/control)

[@johngleue]

@healgoth Yeah, politics and religion were inseparable for a very long time. The enlightenment was a huge accomplishment.

[@easyenetwork2023]

Reed is a humanist, minus kindness and respect.

[@johngleue]

@easyenetwork2023 He makes a comment when the girls are standing at the two doors preparing to make their choice about the consequences of each door. It boils down to a world with purpose and intrinsic meaning or one without. May I ask if you've seen the movie yet? Because Reed is clearly a monster who uses religion to enslave others.

[@rossbooth4635]

I grew up Mormon (been Atheist for 25 years now) and there were really only two inaccuracies about Mormons. The first is the butterfly thing - it works well for the story, but Mormons DO NOT believe in any form of reincarnation, just resurrection with your original body. The other is that there was a 45-year old missionary walking around with no companion. The Topher Grace character should have been what's called a "Mission President". I thought it was a great movie.

[@rossbooth4635]

*Mission presidents typically do serve together with their wives, but they are not required to ALWAYS be together with their companion like missionaries are.

[@bonojennett]

Doesn't Joseph esoterically teach about "plural probations" to elect followers - as mentioned in Early Mormonism and the Magical World View? This was weird to me, because I thought Joseph stated that reincarnation was the "Devil's doctrine" since it was a mockery to the atonement and eternal progression. It makes no sense in LDS theology to go from a resurrected, immortal state and go back to a corrupted, mortal one. I mean, Joseph was a creative guy. I'm sure he could have created "higher understanding" and framework to keep members with the Second Anointing chasing that carrot and thinking they're special.

[@bonojennett]

​@@rossbooth4635but you're right though. Generally members wouldn't entertain the idea of reincarnation.

[@Chunter060]

What an intelligent, logical, fair, and respectful analysis thank you for this! New subscriber ❤

[@upcoming3341]

As an X-LDS member from SLC, I loved hearing Mr. Reed rip apart the church for the face that it is. The part that’s super realistic in regards to the Utah Mormon’s is the one sister missionary talking about “just believing” with no evidence is so spot on. My old man used to talk like that all the time when I had deeper questions. He’d always say “we just believe. We don’t question.” Any time you get to asking basic, below service level questions about the church, it all falls apart.

[@laycie_mnm]

Hi Lucas! I've been waiting for your review. I absolutely love your insight and when I saw the movie, I knew you were going to have some interesting comments. I'm an exmormon who was fully believing until I left 5 years ago at 50yo. I love everything you said about Paxton. I could relate to her character so much! I didn't serve a mission (it wasn't encouraged as much for young women when I was that age). However, I was very vocal about my beliefs and vehemently defended the church my whole life. I've heard some other reviews of the film that didn't get how Paxton could seemingly "flip" from being a true believer one moment, to being so nuanced the next. I love that you caught the nuances early on. Growing up in mormonism myself, I can say that you are spot on about how young people growing up in "high demand religions" can and do have the same curiosities about normal things like sex. It's important to point out that Paxton has cognitive dissonance about what she was watching (sex being a normal human function) and her guilt over watching a porno, which would be considered sinful. The way she was able to settle this in her mind was to find a "lesson" in it and deflect the guilt onto the actress in the film. Fascinating writing! As a true believing mormon for 50 years, I know what it means to cling to your faith, even when there are so many parts of the religion that don't make sense. When your whole family is mormon, there's a lot at stake by questioning, so you just don't. I can clearly see that Paxton has those questions, but pushed them down and clung to the narrative of "if all these people believe it, it must be true". Once I knew it wasn't true, the Jenga tower fell very quickly because it was precariously unsteady all along. I was curious what your thoughts are about the fact that both doors lead to the same place. Is there some symbolism there?

[@jeng5757]

To me it said it doesn't matter what you believe, there is nothing after. Believing there is nothing after allows Reed to do evil things.

[@MrJoelromeo]

Great work brother!

[@BlueRaven-q2x]

What an Excellent analysis. I thought I had a lot to ponder from the movie but you really gave me pause to consider many ideas. Thanks.

[@edwardtran1974]

Very nice analysis

[@mtbAndre1]

This is a great analysis of the movie. Great job!

[@kristinastewart4645]

Love this breakdown and reflection on the film. Subscribed!

[@chisvargas4310]

Yessss!! Definitely agree this is the best breakdown I’ve seen on this film yet! Subscribed as well 😏

[@lrod4349]

I definitely don’t think this is in the horror category. This is a thriller.

[@troublemethis17]

Any shock or terror from this film is mainly derived from those with whom religion and those nagging logic and reason problems persist in their lives. Oddly this film is about not religion as a whole verses atheism, but mormonism as an example most easily ridiculed by other religious sects who ironically are blind to their own absurdity. The end was a nod to the non answered question enabling the film to be sold as thought provoking instead of antireligious. Have no doubt, whatever the brevity of Reid's arguments, none of the girl's retorts survive scrutiny. "He has the head of a bird" is not an argument diminishing her own incredulously gullible beliefs

[@Kevin-sr8rr]

Great video, dude! I watched the film last night and absolutely loved it. I was interested to see how other people interpreted the film, and I think you did a great job of analyzing it!!! Instant subscribe!

[@robocoxo]

Great review! Such a good movie

[@Lee-f8j5k]

Great analysis without trying to force any particular opinion.

[@NightingaleLovesComics]

I might be reaching, but that final scene of Sister Paxton escaping Mr. Reed's house reminds me of Coraline escaping through the tunnel and away from the Other Mother. Both of the shots/scenes look eerily similar (the tunnel is dark, dirty, and dusty). Also, in my belief or interpretation, I don't think that neither Sister Paxton nor Coraline escaped from the tunnel. I strongly believe that both of them are dead, and we are just seeing a fantasy of them escaping. Like I said, I might be reaching, but I'm standing by my own comment. But, let me know what you all believe and / or think about this theory. I would love to read your comments ! Lastly, Lucas Blue, your videos are amazing ! Have a great day, everyone !

[@herbertlandon3267]

Very good analysis. The ultimate theme is what do we believe and why. It is very complex and intriguing. The ambiguity of the ending drives this home.

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

Impressive analysis, Lucas Blue. Looking forward to your next upload! I smashed that thumbs up button on your video. Keep up the fantastic work. The exploration of faith and doubt in "Heretic" is thought-provoking. How do you think the filmmakers balance the portrayal of religious beliefs with their critique of them throughout the narrative?

[@teriburgan8436]

Thank you - this was the best interpretation of this film that I have heard so far! You cleared up a lot for me.

[@lucasblue20]

All my pleasure, my friend! Thank you so much!!

[@BurnettFilms]

This was such an amazing film and has quickly become one of my favorite movies. I grew up LDS and left a couple years ago. This film was eye opening and very helpful for me. I cried so much at the end of the movie.

[@kymo6343]

Just saying most butterflies don't fly in winter... XD

[@MaxThibodeaux]

There was a butterfly trapped in the front room flying around the light. Maybe it escaped along with the girl.

[@Elle-xf8mw]

Mr. Reed asking for prayers looked like mocking her beliefs and not him being afraid because after that he wen for killing her! She admitted prayers have no effect and claimed "it's nice to think about someone other than yourself" then she proceed to pray for herself which made me laugh! 😂 At that moment She still was hanging up to comforting lies and accepted her "faith" rather than act and save herself, she was injured but his injury was way worse than her! at that moment it was enough for her to movie away from him or even finish him but she chose praying rather than saving herself.

[@ZacBookPro]

As an atheist, let me clarify. First, she was not praying for herself, she was praying for HIM. She says it right before, when she is talking about praying being thinking of someone other than herself, she says “even if it’s you.” She is praying for Reed. My point is, you say “she prayed rather than saving herself,” but when Reed was crying and resting on her shoulder it was because she was praying for him. He easily has the strength to kill her, but perhaps it is the act of praying for him that stays his hand. This moment where this monster of a man, with so much pain and grief and resentment and fury and emptiness and loneliness and hatred of religions… His hand is stayed by the kindness and compassion shown to him by an innocent person he has hurt emotionally and physically. She knows exactly who he is, and still prays and forgives him. It’s beautiful.

[@gennsui]

I really enjoyed listening to this take. Very well thought out

[@lucasblue20]

So happy to hear this, thank you 🙏🏾

[@umrat-tawil8515]

Saw this yesterday. The Hollies' version of The Air That I Breathe is itself a reiteration of the song's co-writer's version. Although Albert Hammond recorded it first, The Hollies got the fame, in much the same way that Pete Ham's Without You was mistaken as a Nilsson composition. I'm pretty sure the film ended with Sister Paxton escaping through the window. But that would've been too pat, and we all know how fond directors these days are of twist endings, especially ones which may pave the way for sequels. IMO.

[@guillemiami]

Genius analysis. Thanks.

[@SamanthaStew]

Great analysis. I want to know how Reed would have pulled off his little charade and switched the bodies if the elder hadn’t rang the doorbell at just the right time. The trick only works with misdirection and distraction. I love that Paxton stood strong in her faith at the end, I agree that praying for someone whether it helps or not is a beautiful thing to do.

[@petermarton6160]

I wonder what Reed would have done if the girls had belived the "resurrection" in the dungeon was real. How would his plan continue after that.

[@tatimed10]

I was hoping you would do this movie

[@personanongrata987]

I have now watched "Heretic" three times. Mr. Reed is a polygamist. --

[@PunicCurse]

I loved this movie. So freaking thought provoking and emotional.

[@Astral_Dusk]

Certain dives really deep into the ideas of belief and control, even simulation hypothesis damn.

[@robbyroba]

Did like the movie, but I don't think the point of the movie is really about debating religious beliefs since Mr. Reed was never actually curious about it and was just leading the two women along. It feels more like someone who recently became an atheist using surface level argument skills like pointing out how similar Jesus is to Horus, Krishna, Dionysus, when you look into the actual history of those myths, there are hardly any similarities such as the claim they were all born on December 25th or how one was born from a rock, not a virgin.

[@brbaic9364]

The film is neither about trying to debate religion with the audience, nor is it trying to sell you a truth to it.

[@troublemethis17]

And religious people will always find a way to diminish examinations while offering nothing substantive to fortify their beliefs of higher beings aside from arguing a particular sect's minutae

[@melody8923]

The way I understand it, the film isn't about religion, it's about belief. Blind belief is harmful and easily exploited and manipulated. Believing something just because someone tells you to, or repeating things just because everyone says them, gives power to people who often aren't worthy of it. Reed exploits the blind faith of believers, but it goes way past religion. He says he has a wife, the girls believe him sight unseen and come into the house. He says his wife is making blueberry pie, they believe it until he begins to act suspicious and they figure out that the candle is dispensing the blueberry pie scent. He asks them if they're bothered by the metal in the walls, and they don't ask a single question about that, which comes back to bite them later. This movie uses religion as an allegory, but I believe it's talking about all belief, and how devastating the consequences to not questioning things can be. Ultimately, that is a lesson that backfires on Reed himself, because he believes beyond a doubt that he is completely in control of the situation. This ends up being his undoing. To be too certain of things that are beyond our control is what's damning. If you think about it, in the end, neither of the girls turned out to be blind in their faith (not that that saved them). Ironically, Reed turned out to be blind in his.

[@dbgreene9020]

The movie isn't actually about religion. It's about belief. And how easily we all believe stuff told to us without any examination

[@jprice1928]

Yes. He was a pathological liar and manipulator so I don’t understand why anyone would take anything he says as being a message being sent to the audience. Belief is definitely a theme and I would say it’s more about how the girls deal with their beliefs. Mr. reed is only there to make them confront those fears.

[@GreenpointRemembers]

I found the use of product placement ingenuous in the film, from burgers to board games to music. The one true god behind it all is advertising money.

[@mecky4137]

Paxton’s faith is also established at the beginning of the film as being more intuitively derived and less based on a rigorous intellectual examination. That makes it less susceptible to Reed’s attempt to intellectually dismantle it. For example, Paxton never seems threatened by Reed’s interpretation of polygamy and doesn’t attempt to defend it. Philosophy aside, this movie masterfully created a feeling of suspense, especially in the first hour. I have never felt more terrified watching a movie in which nothing particularly bad was happening. It simply built an increasing sense of threat to the characters.

[@ZacBookPro]

Brilliant. I would like to ask if you found as much symbolism and meaning in the following: Blueberry pie: Truth. With the candle, he is suggesting that he made them believe there was pie, but it was a lie. At the doors, Barnes says there is a spectrum of belief. Then, the prophet brings out an actual blueberry - damaged of course - but now we learn there was pie the whole time, and they don’t know what part of the scent was from the real pie, or the candle. Glasses: Perception. Reed puts on the glasses when he wants to make a point that he can see better than they can. If that is true, the shot of his glasses at the end, when he has been struck by Barnes… could be taken as an attack on logic, or perhaps the piece of wood with 3 nails is the bloodied cross, and Barnes is using a symbolic crucifix to violently defend her religion. Implant: not really a symbol, but I would like to note that the birth control implant that goes in your arm is a rubbery material. This means that the metal could have actually been a microchip, or Reed could have switched the implants when he was digging around in Barnes’s arm - for viewers like me who would ask this question. And maybe Barnes really was a program, and the only way she could be resurrected was if the implant was removed… which is why that happens. House lines: the geometrical wood lines of the house - are not symmetrical. If you look at the shot of him between the candles for example, the wall behind him creates an optical illusion where you cannot see the depth of the wall behind him. Also on the ceiling there is broken symmetry, which is another way he controls what we see clearly and what we don’t. Letter opener and code word: I do believe Reed threw the book of mormon on the floor, he was deliberately giving them a weapon. I also believe he knew the code word “magic underwear.” The biggest clue is that he slices Barnes’s neck, the exact place the code word was supposed to target, RIGHT as she says the code word. Then, at the very end, I believe this is part of the ritual. He says the known code word, and usually that is the expression and confirmation of his total control - when a person has a weapon, and has heard a trigger word, and they STILL don’t fight… then he has won. So I believe everything was orchestrated until that moment. Matches: I believe this was planned too. He has done this too many times to miss it. Having a routine every time he opens the door, and not thinking about matches as a risk… and then when he sees the girls lighting the matches, he is not in the least surprised. He actually humorously takes a match and lights his lantern with it - showing that it’s all part of the plan. Watering can: When he opens the door, he has the watering can, but it is pouring and we see no plants. Which means he was giving the prophets water, 15 seconds before he opens the door he was watering his captives, yet answers the door as charming as ever. And who knows how many severed fingers were in there from other naughty prophets. What do you think?

[@hanlee3345]

Scary that i got the ad for this movie after the breakdown

[@kevinclifford3240]

Amazing breakdown!

[@lucasblue20]

Thank you!!

[@brbaic9364]

There's two particular pieces of dialog that are crucial for the films conclusion that you didn't really touch on. In fact, most reviews/analysis don't touch on them much. First there is the fast food comparison in the living room. Reed asks them what their favorite fast food is, they generally agree on Wendy's being the best, and he says be spent a lot of time studying in hopes of finding the "Wendy's of religions." He asks them well what about Taco Bell? To which Barnes replies "We don't talk about Taco Bell." Later on in the basement after the supposed prophet ressurects and repeats the script, Barnes argues that what she described wasn't a lack of an afterlife necessarily, but more of a near death experience. She explains that when she was very young she was legally dead for a few minutes after an ecoli outbreak from eating Taco bell, and that the prophet's statement is essentially what she experienced in her near death experience as her brain was starting to shut down. Also the picture of Dante's Inferno is more important than just a reference, for anyone who knows how that story goes. All of these things culminate to Paxton ultimately dying in the basement with the others. When Reed is crawling to her as he's bleeding out he tells her "pray for us" in a mocking sense. When he goes to put the knife to her neck, he's not crawling to god in a last moment of desperation or terror, he's simply trying to rob Paxton of her moment of comfort in his way of "proving" prayer doesn'tphysicallydo anything. I think their dialog about the prayers experiment further confirms that. They all died down there. Reed did stab her and they both Bled out. What we as the audience are seeing from the time Barnes attacks Reed, to the final shot of the butterfly vanishing, is Paxton's near death experience as her brain is shutting down. The outside even feels so snowy and fuzzy and sort of dream like. Not to mention that it's incredibly implausible that Reed would've actually put the only escape physically into the model of his home, which is in the open. Whether someone thinks she goes to heaven or not after the fact isn't really relevant, but I do think it is factual that they all died down there.

[@melody8923]

But it isn't factual. It is deliberately ambiguous, as confirmed by the filmmakers. It's ironic that you seem to be so certain that the end is exactly what you think it is, because absolute certainty and control are major themes of this film. I think your interpretation has merit, and personally, I gravitate towards it as well -- but it is the perspective of a person who does not believe in miracles. Therefore you dismiss that option without hesitation. But maybe a miracle of sorts did happen? Maybe Barnes, for whatever reason (natural or supernatural), did cling on to life just long enough to save Paxton? Maybe Paxton had just enough energy left to make it out of the house? Maybe Reid was so self-assured and so certain of the control he had over things that putting the escape detail into the model didn't seem like a liability to him? That is precisely the point: The movie leaves it open to interpretation. That is the only thing that's factual, and I would say that to the film, this matters more than what "really" happened in the end.

[@brbaic9364]

@melody8923 the filmmakers left it ambiguous enough for these sort of conversations to happen, yes. That doesn't mean that they don't have an objective interpretation.

[@melody8923]

@@brbaic9364 ...which you are privy to? (the pedant in me can't help but point out that an interpretation, by definition, is never objective... but ignore that, that's beside the point right now ;) )

[@chloecalloway1428]

I like your interpretation of the reason Reed crawled towards Paxton in the end. I didn’t consider that perspective.

[@kenkearsey9239]

So many layers to this amazing movie! Mr. Read's Hubby Mug!!! Interestingly the piece of wood has three nails, they all die, simples!😉

[@Astral_Dusk]

Loved this movie, wow. The ending felt a little quick and cliche but the ride was incredible and still overall a great film.

[@1voluntaryist]

I noticed a few minor contradictions, but ONE BIG point/question. When all is said the heretic Reed is asked why he is so controlling and he replies: "Why do you let me?" His answer is referring to the 8 billion population that chooses to be controlled, seeks it, sacrifices everything for it. WHY? Since early youth I noticed this, asked about it, and got no rational answer, only appeals to imagination or personal emotions. I noticed the particular form it took was usually determined by the society/and or the family. But still, WHY? I was influenced by my family, but not in the same way. I took all the good advice and rejected the bad, e.g., my mother was superstitious, which I strongly rejected, even identified as a mental problem which horrified me. Sometimes it was like living with a crazy person. My father was not superstitious but he wouldn't advise me against a specific belief usually, instead he told me the more important a decision, the more important it is to think it over and decide for yourself. That was a little disconcerting at first, then "I thought about being independent, tried it, reached my own conclusion about religion, and I felt proud that I had reached a deep personal commitment to my self." As the years passed, I would get only one side of an argument, which made finding out the truth much more difficult, but I did it, despite the propaganda. At 12, living in the ghetto with gangs, I figured out the biggest gang was the government and was as immoral as all gangs are. When I stated this, I was called an anarchist, and no one had ever pitched this politics to me. I had only heard the opposite argument for authority, never against it. But, like being sold religion in church, I got only one side and still thought it out and reached the truth. I had become an atheist. The "Heretic" doesn't answer "Why do you let me?" except to say, "It makes me feel good, e.g., safe." Is ignorance so painful that you must alleviate it with a drug, e.g., a superstition?

[@GODSPEED17]

13:50 In the ending with the butterfly… could it be that Paxton is dead (died in the basement while praying and getting stabbed in the neck) and that the buttery fly is still Paxton visiting herself to let her know that she is dead. Paxton is the one that said that if she died she would want to be a butterfly and visit loved ones specifically on their hand or finger whatever it was. I think it’s her telling herself she is dead in butterfly form. I think that part that Barnes killing reed with the spiked plank is an imagination in her afterlife and it never actually happens.

[@DanaJaneWriter]

Your analysis is the best one, I believe. I dibnt like the ones insisting she died too. I trully believed she survived, and imagined for a moment her friend as a butterfly 🦋

[@lrod4349]

She imagined her friend as a butterfly cause she was dying just like her sister described a near death experience and the she realized what she said was the truth and that she was dying. So she didn’t survive because there is no sign that someone rescued her and gave her medical attention.

[@559624]

I need a breakdown of the doors and rooms Paxton walks through in the basement before getting to the other women. There are symbols on each door, the doors are different colors, and the rooms seem decorated differently. I’m guessing it relates to the circles of hell in Dante’s inferno but I’m not sure.

[@robynsummer7068]

I just saw this movie a couple of hours ago, and I wanted to see your thoughts on it!

[@fn_xdnutz9925]

10/10 movie Sophie thatchers performance was phenomenal

[@baibai3175]

10:36 how can you assume paxton start to detach from blind faith but still religious?

[@arijitdakshi820]

It's great to see Hugh Grant pick up the baton of English villains from Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter).

[@jamesb8818]

Well put, this gets a sub for sure. part of me hopes it was real, the other part of me felt like it was that "generic" story about what people see after death and that it's all a hallucination your brain creates. I have to watch it a few more times and see if i notice any other details. i feel like they showed that window multiple times on purpose to show how deep it was and how hard it would be to squeeze through, even if you could break the multiple layers. did you notice the expressions on his face as he is crawling to her? it almost looked like he was mad at her and crawling to her to silence her for praying for him. its right after she has an epiphany about prayer and religion.

[@paydro1225]

I liked this video so much. I do disagree with the “or” “or” “or” I don’t think there’s an end “conclusion” It’s a point to make that a person’s relationship with “God” is their own. Sister Paxton stayed true to her belief and died on that belief. Sister Barnes found a spiritual sanctuary but lied to get in to the church. She also had a independent choice with her relationship to “God” The challenge that Hugh Grant’s character did was try to indoctrinate a “disbelief” Sister Paxton, which he failed. The irony is that the title of the film is “Heretic” which is basically someone with unconventional religious practices that are frowned upon other religions. He died challenging the point he tried to make. It’s like playing chess or checkers? It’s “Yes” Brilliant film and great analysis on these subjects!

[@LouanneNoel]

I think most of the points here are very good. Having said that, I am bothered by our level of jaded thinking by fully overlooking in every discussion the fact that the candle nearly goes out when Barnes get near and that it won't work at all when she is trying to start the match endlessly; however, when Hugh Grant strikes the match oncd, it works. Barnes is part of a mission to serve and doesn't know she is being used. The idea here hasn't been explored. The ultimate irony here is that Hugh Grant is trying to play God and is killing missionaries through his own lack of faith, the manic search for fact, proving a justification for "belief". The irony is that Barnes is already the one with strong intellectual understanding and has wonderful strengths in her belief. She; however, is the heroine in the film because she is and has been working in the spiritual realm, having come back from being dead, a part of the spiritual world while not truly realizing it. So she is wrong about what her reality is. The movie is disarming because it demonstrates that we likely are living on the opposite side of the door and what we experience as "lack of proof", in ability to demonstrate fact of God, is precisely how it is intended to demonstrate belief. This is demonstrated in the conclusion when she is on the brink of death. She is seeing the butterfly, which we see as her brain dying and releasing all its chemicals and endorphins, but on the spiritual door, which if the flame, that is essentially being ignored by everyone, is symbolic of how we ignore evidence of God. While he saw it, he still denied it...denying evidence of God for the practice of being angry, jaded and evil. So there is a great likelihood, according to the writers, that physical death being a short door to a infinite life is the greater evidence of reality, the reality we can't see at all in our own world. I think you get it right but ignore the flame, which is the true evidence of there being another dimension, not Barnes coming back from near death or any of the other machinations. The flame is the evidence of whether Paxton spiritually lives after death and whether the butterfly is her dying brain or the door to spiritual reality. Believing anything else is still jaded.

[@Ash.Crow.Goddess]

3:40 I've watched enough horror to know that if a congenial English chap, in Utah, probably, offers me blueberry pie, and I'm a Mormon and he's happy to see me and he's wearing geometry, don't go in the house. Honestly, the geometry sweater alone is enough for me.

[@gregjamesgill490]

Film critic Lucas deserves an academy award for convincing us he wasn’t reading off a teleprompter. Maybe he wasn’t.

[@bbbabrock]

My biggest problem w Mr. Reeds presentation of the iterations of monotheism was that he presented Judaism as being the first, when really the Jews picked up monotheism from Zorasterism while in captivity in Babylon.

[@jonathanduran8669]

This was the best summary and insights from a nonmember of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints that I have seen yet. Way to go!

[@whoog74]

Nice work !! Really dug this. Reed is acting out all an atheists rage. He does not believe, and is dead set to impose his will on those of faith, who he deems are idiots, with brutal and vicious psychological attacks. Yet, if the ending is what a dead woman's brain conjured up at the last breath of life, one would have to have faith to have expressed it. Meaning, a cut to black would occur rather than what did happen.

[@elisabethpine3420]

Great insight. I think the use of music and games to make point was drawn out too long and over explained. I loved the weakness in Mystery's arguments, demonstrating how easy it is to believe someone who is charming obviously intelligent( but we find not THAT intelligent) and confident. One must block out all that to focus on the words and meaning being conveyed.

[@dannagin]

well done

[@TheStengah]

Very well put movie analysis in under 15 minutes. Very impressive Lucas! 🎉❤

[@baibai3175]

Self-comfort is what religion about these days.

[@TraderInTrading]

Great explanation thx. Just finished watching with my gurlfriend. Was such a fwicken great film. thx again. thx u. Bless the Jebus you believe in. hail Jebus

[@mwoods4608]

The ending is the door we choose : belief or disbelief

[@mugglesarecooltoo]

I thought Mr Reed was less of a Jordan Peterson and more of a Richard Dawkins, right down to the facial expressions.

[@longevity-u1z]

am now terrified of hg

[@TheSushiandme]

At the end, it doesn't matter. It's just what you believe 😅. But the movie was fked up once they got down to the basement

[@baibai3175]

12:44 subtle criticism of non-religious when dying will get close to a place of god? In real life, there's no concrete evidence of this matter

[@thisisjustanillusion6486]

Why is no one even mentioning how did he know she had an object in her arm ?

[@eat.food.not.friends]

It's funny, because Mr. Reed wants to test whether they really believe in God or miracles, even though many indications speak against it. And that's exactly the opposite of what I experienced. I have trouble believing in God, although I think there is more to it than against it. I just don't see this evidence against the existence of God that Mr. Reed is talking about, and yet it's hard to believe in God. I don't know if I'm alone with it or if others are like that....

[@crystalshaw8744]

I pick E all of the above.

[@duellingscarguevara]

Landlords game, was the game monopoly ripped off?.

[@HipHip_Jorge]

Vultare said what first? I swear I’ve read that in the Bible 🤔 that’s right! Jesus said that first Luke 12:48.

[@DaveLaubman--MakingCents]

The last thing you said is that it could 'lift us up in our lowest of moments'. However, prayer, when done consistantly, allows us to have a spiritual connection with the faith that God exists. A belief that things unseen can be clearly seen in a vision of hope and faith, which is the only thing that we can rely on that has any true consequence of our behavior in our existance that affects eternity.

[@movieshelter]

Yesterday Hugh presented finaly Heretic in Berlin and signed few autographs. He is amazing!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKurnpuLl9GNptU

[@calvienchan]

Sister Barnes comes back to life because she's an android....and I use iPhone

[@loppin98777]

lmao

[@realhousewifeoftransylvania1.0]

Paxton is actually the one who spews word salad. Reed was very clear with his points.

[@BBNBRM-mt4gs]

All his points are straight out of Zeitgeist, which openly lies about multiple mythologies to try and debunk Christianity. Horus was not a virgin birth, did not walk on water, and did not have 12 apostles. Mithras was not born on December 25th, was not a virgin birth, was not crucified.

[@jaxsonperkinsspam9329]

Would it be that hard to just explain what happened instead of going on this philosophical rant?

[@loppin98777]

dude shut up lol you said nothing you just said what everyone thought of the movie

[@12midnightbabymaking]

Man how about you stfu 😂 a loser like you had to post a negative comment.

[@meonmaau7452]

Reed wanted to kill her so he came near to her ....😂 ....