Did anyone like the symbolism of how both doors lead to the same basement? Whether you believe or don't believe, we're all trapped in the dark of not knowing
This is a GREAT movie but the ending kinda ruined it. Its okay but they could have done it better. Show don’t tell but the movie is kinda explaining a lot of things to us.
In the movie, it’s striking how the two Mormon missionaries reveal a depth and intelligence that the villain overlooked. Their faith drives them to acts of courage, while his to acts of cruelty. A thoughtful take on how beliefs shape behavior-sometimes in surprising ways.
Yeah, sure they walked into a grown man's house and took his word for it that his wife was there without question that's what faith gets you; that's why it's called faith/instead of using common sense and healthy skepticism. Their faith got them dead. I choose critical thinking and healthy skepticism over faith any day!
@@Mehki227it’s why Ted Bundy was able to prey so heavily on the Mormon community in Utah so easily. Religion opens people up to trust without thinking. “Oh Ted is a member, he is safe.” Stop being sheep people. Wake up and start thinking.
I don’t believe sister Barnes uses the plank of wood. I think it’s the final manifestation of sister Paxton, who ends up dying. The butterfly appearing and then disappearing and the light shinning bright in the background of the last scene is what brings it home for me.
Exactly!! The same way she said the prophet was having a hallucination.. So my thought is she was actually entering death. The last scene with the wood, and the butterfly was exactly that. The transformation of the mind into the dying phase
My take away from the movie is that religion as an institution is not real and it’s a deception to make money it’s a marketing scam. But beliefs and hopes are objective. Whether you believe or don’t both are real to each individual because people make their own realities. And I agree with this🤝
May I interest you in my own expansion on a similar interpretation? As you said, we each see our own realities. In the ending, Mr. Reed could only see the selfish aspects of religion, while sister Paxton could only see the selfless aspects. Praying for her attacker was a perfect example of the meekness we mormons are taught as kids. When the selfless and meek continuously give into the controlling and selfish among us, they are merely churned up in a system designed only to collect and control more and more people and wealth. If we stand up against the most controlling aspects of our religion, what we are left with is the other side of the "true religion" coin. Control of others Self-sacrifice. As hard as it is to see both sides of a coin at once, it is even more difficult to see control and even abuse as anything but love when they've confused the two for you your whole life. Few people who haven't been a cult member before will pick up on some of the following, I suspect: Mr. Reed's ability to behave as if everything is totally ok and normal while sitting in a room with a fresh corpse perfectly embodies how we LDS just grin and play along when presented the more culty parts of our religion. When I hear a member explain how one of Joseph Smith's many flaws actually strengthened their testimony of the prophet, it can feel like someone casually or even excitedly telling you the corpse in the room isn't a red flag. Sister Paxton did something similar while bearing her pornographically inspired testimony. You can say the most bizzarre things with a believing tone/take-away and go unquestioned in most LDS Sunday schools. I heard an elder give a nearly identicle testimony about pornography while serving on my mission. Whenever he shared his experience of struggling with a pornography addiction he would testify to seeing "every bit of joy and the light of Christ leave her eyes", referring to a porn actress. This movie is uncannily accurate in it's portrayal of LDS missionaries in my opinion. A very difficult task. When you're not a part of an in-group, it's nearly impossible to mimic the subtle signals we use to identify our own. Heretic contains the most true depiction of my people in any piece of media, including church produced. I left the church this year. Before that, I wouldn't have even allowed myself to watch a review of this movie. But now, it feels like it depicts so much of my specific journey out of organized religion. This film is the purest gold in my eyes. I absolutely love it. Edit: I do think Topher Grace's character needed some more time in the oven though. Thankfully there wasn't much of him.
I think the fact that the butterfly was trapped inside the house is symbolic to represent that Paxton does not truly escape, and they both die there in the basement. The final scenes are a dream-like portrayal of what she prayed/wished would have occurred.
Jesus is held up by rope, not nails. Please watch The Passion of Christ to get a fuller scope of the sacrifice. Reducing it to simply three undermines the extent of forgiveness and the full power it can hold
@@ObsessiveGeek John 20:24-25 so the Gospel of John reports wounds in the risen Jesus's hands. But, you’re saying to watch a Hollywood movie for accuracy on the crucifixion? No, I’m going to go with the Bible instead, OK?
Yes, the three nails of the crucifixion, the holy Trinity and the three books of monotheism (the Abrahamic religions). .. also the Hollies, Radiohead and Lana Del Rey. 😅 jk
@@MFLimited WOUNDS are not nails. The details of crucifixion are actually quite well known as it is a known historical punishment. I was pointing to that movie, which is incredibly accurate to what is known and as well as what is stated in the Bible as a source of understanding the full extent of the sacrifice. As I very clearly stated, reducing that to simply three is incredibly shallow just so it can fit into some metaphorical symbolism - the reality is deep enough without the need to add or find other meaning behind it.
I really liked your take on why the butterfly was used as symbolism for reincarnation. It also goes to show that Sister Paxton was young, and as a young person, you may be influenced to believe and think a certain way but she was enamored with non traditional ideas in which she found beauty, comfort, solace and hope. The behaviors of Barnes and Paxton also reflect the reflective intelligence that many youth under organized religion represent when they are willing to think outside the box where in they’ve been influenced to believe in.
That's kind of the entire point though. These religious folks who go door to door are trying to catch people off guard, in their place of comfort, and prey on them.
The "moral" of the story is that magic underwear makes Mormon girls horny, and thusly closer to the heart of Mystery religion...the rape of Persephone by Hades. Very simple.🤠
Yeah he spewed a bunch of religious garbage and wasted minutes he should have been talking about the movie. Also all the info in this is disingenuous. Eg. There are so many more religions christianity ripped off than just Horus. The entire Bible is a compilation of stories, more than half of it is literally the "old" testament, old meaning the Jewish torah. Christianity blatantly stole the Jewish holy book. It's all lies.
Or was sister Barnes resurrection nothing more than an hallucination of a woman passing, and her trust in prayer easing that passing? Sister Barnes earlier explains the phenomena of near death experience from a scientific perspective. I liked this movie for the multiple interpretations that can be put forth...Much like religion when I think about it.
…and the fact that her phone, when thrown outside, still had no signal. Why show that? Because the phone was in reality still in the basement, as was she.
The way Sister Barnes explains a scientific near death experience is nothing like what Sister Paxton experiences. Nothing. So we have to decide for ourselves. Considering the last words of Sister Paxton, that the power of prayer is non existent but that she thought it was nice that we pray for each other. In the end she just thought her way was superior, rather than his choice of cruelty. She chose innocence. Which is beautiful on its own. But what happened was that she was rescued through violence; either a temporarily resurrected woman, or one that wasn’t quite dead yet. Paxton escaped and, therefore, would be able to save all of the other women. This was normal final girls stuff until the, unseasonal, butterfly lands on her hand. Is it a sign that she’s dreaming it all? Or is it God, restoring her faith?
@@MFLimited I think it's a contradiction to say the near death explanation was nothing like Sister Barnes described, and then thatwe have to decide for ourselves what the ending means. Sister Paxton's prayer at the end could induce a more positive final hallucination. For me it had a "Jacobs Ladder" vibe to it, but I fully understand how others could get a completely different interpretation. Every one of the post death hypothesis explored in the movie could be interpreted at the end. None of them line up exactly with any of the beliefs explored. That was the whole point of the movie's ending. IMO, It also breaks away from the final girl trope, as most of Sister Paxtons moves were predicted, and her demise obviously makes that trope irrelevant. But, I see how it could be seen that way.
Great review and analysis of this movie and let me add that you have a very soothing and beautifully haunting voice I feel you would be amazing voicing audio books
Expert analysis, you earned my sub. I would also add that the blueberry pie candle as a part of the simulation that tricked their senses into thinking a certain thing (that his wife was cooking a pie). If that fooled them, then what else is capturing your attention but is actually a shadow of Plato's allegorical cave? 😶
The reason those symbols were there, is that Reed built his prison in the form of Dante's Paradise (hence the illustration of 'Paradiso' on Reeds wall). Paxton was in the final level of hell at that point, that's why all of the symbolism and books were about satanism. They started in the church room, and progressed to increasingly hellish levels.
Control is about the need for the individual to feel in control, in a world where there is little to none. It's not just about control of other people.
Was she though? That's just your interpretation. Another interpretation is she wasn't quite dead yet. And that's what's great about this movie - it won't give you answers, it won't tell you what to think
@evasirova3985 I'm speaking in relation to the religious aspect of the crucifixion which is explicitly discussed in the video. Clearly this makes sense as opposed to the regular horror trope of her not really being dead. But yes, yours is also a viable interpretation, although in the context of the subject matter it would seem rather out of context. Plus who survives after bleeding out from a slit throat. Come on now!
@@missthea5259 I think now you are heavily interpreting... The movie is quite clear in its ambiguity. It leaves it blatantly open for viewers to make their own truth. The whole point of the film is, that it solely depends on YOUR perspective on faith whether you believe a thing is a miracle or not. And on the slit throat part: It heavily depends on how deep the cut is and whether the artery is completely severed or just punctuated and also whether the windpipe is cut as well or not. If the cut isn't too deep and the windpipe intact it can take quite some time to faint and even longer to bleed out, even hours. The filmmakers make sure to show us just a very short cut and some bleeding, so it's absolutely in the realm of possibility that she just passed out and died later. Or that it was a miracle. Again: Whether you choose to believe one or the other comes down to you, no one else.
@pervertesacker7131 I'm speaking in metaphorical terms. This seems to not be getting through. This whole video commentary is metaphorical so I went with that tone in my comment. I am not a religious person. My comment is in keeping with the film's themes. So yes you're right. It's an inerpretarion. As is EVERYTHING the video exposites. Re the throat....from the way the blood spilled onto her hands, I think we can safely see that it was not a s shallow cut. And no, here I'm definitely not being metaphorical. I think it's just a.bad/misleading shot which eliminates the subtlety the film is trying to convey. Bleeding at that rate, where is she getting the strength so long afterwards to pick up a plank of wood, aim, and hit with such strength? It's so weird the way subtlety is so willfully understood in online commentary. And finally...we all all HEAVILY interpreting here. That's what this whole conversation is about. You're absolutely right... mine is an interpretation. We can agree on that. I'm just rather unsure as to why you're so heavily invested in 'disproving' a mere interpretation though. 🤷🏽♀️
It seems this way, paxton prays and all of a sudden barnes comes to, saving her friend. In the same way today, God uses his (active force)ho,y spirit along with myriads of angels to help righteous hearted individuals, especially in the spreading message of his coming kingdom . ❤ love your videos. Keep up the great work.
Wow this was a very thorough and well researched review. Not sure of your background but you do seem to have quite a grasp on the idea of comparitive religions
Man, I really love your review here! * And gotta give it to your sleeping house-mate, your soft voice during this whole thing is beautiful. You might wanna consider using it for other pieces you do. Seriously fit the mood for this one. Anyway, I subscribed to you, and I will watch your “Tell-Tale Heart” short film that you mentioned. I really loved “HERETIC”, way more than I expected. Your take on it here enriched it even more for me. Cheers, Good Sir.
Does anyone know why Mr Reid knew sister Barnes' history with her father dying etc? No one really addresses it, but it was weird. Did I miss something?
I have a strange interpretation of the ending, not sure if it makes sense. How I saw it is that Sister Paxton did die when she was praying, then she saw the butterfly, and when the butterfly disappeared it meant that she was brought back to life (assuming that the church elder maybe came back, ambulance, etc).
I interpreted that she was hallucinating it, and she thought that the butterfly was sister barnes. like how barnes mentioned earlier in the movie that when you're close to death you start seeing things. I think sister paxton probably took it as a sign that barnes was showing her that the god is real & giving her hope by landing on her fingertips. Then also how sister paxton said that even though we know prayer doesn't work, it's still beautiful that we do it anyway. So I think the message is that it doesn't matter if the butterfly was really sister barnes's spirit or just a hallucination because it meant everything to sister paxton in that moment and either she died with relief & love in her heart, or it gave her enough hope to keep her alive until help arrived.
@@stellabrown909they weren’t able to use their cellphones inside the house because of the metal he had inside the walls to cut off signal access. The last scene just shows that the cell phone regained signal when she escaped but not much more I feel.
Remember when he talked about the butterfly dreaming he was a man or the man dreaming he was a butterfly? I felt there was a connection with that seemingly important statement and the very end but I'm not smart enough to make the connection
The way Sister Barnes explains a scientific near death experience is nothing like what Sister Paxton experiences. Nothing. So we have to decide for ourselves. Considering the last words of Sister Paxton, that the power of prayer is non existent but that she thought it was nice that we pray for each other. In the end she just thought her way was superior, rather than his choice of cruelty. She chose innocence. Which is beautiful on its own. But what happened was that she was rescued through violence; either a temporarily resurrected woman, or one that wasn’t quite dead yet. Paxton escaped and, therefore, would be able to save all of the other women. This was normal final girls stuff until the, unseasonal, butterfly lands on her hand. Is it a sign that she’s dreaming it all? Or is it God, restoring her faith? I like to think it’s God . But her mobile phone says otherwise…. but, if she could imagine escaping, I don’t see why she couldn’t imagine her phone working.
In that vein, Mr Reed/Read reps the danger of a sort of sociopathic, academic, pragmatic exploration of doubt that leads to cruelty because it’s completely divorced of love, empathy, and true benign mysticism. Also his jumper is a “coat of many colours”.
You broke this down beautifully and is exactly what i took from it as well. Sister paxton praying at the end for them both wasnt because she was afraid of dying, it is because she has a selfless and humble heart. Which is why i became a Christian. Not because im afraid of dying but because the self sacrificial message of Jesus dying for us makes me want to be a better person and live a better life for myself and others. Christianity and God doesnt control me. Im not "trapped" by blind faith into following rules. (I used to be an athiest and came to believe in Christ at 30 years old.) Christianty INSPIRES me to want to do what is moral and right - not out of fear of punishment - but because the faith brings light into what can often be a dark and broken world and i want to be a part of that light. Thats what true Christianity is about. God doesnt expect us to be perfect, he knows we are sinners till we die. He has given us the gift of salvation through Jesus' sacrifice, and it is up to us to accept that gift or not. He is not here to punish us, it is us who punish ourselves by not accepting his gift of mercy and forgiveness.
Christianity was brought to the masses through the Catholic church... which is absolute about control. then later profit. sorry but your god is a cruel and malevolent god. why do so many children die from cancers and illness? why is there a parasite worm in africa who's whole life cycle is to find a human eye and borrow in to it causing blindness? a god that loves us would never create such awful things
Loved this. Actually added depth and interesting points to the story instead of forcing out a meaning. Found myself relating so much to barnes. Great analysis without being too preachy 👍
I think the shot in the beginning where the bikes are locked together is cool foreshadowing. The look on Grants face when they ask would you like to hear more about the blah blah blah is classic.
I have been wanting to see this movie but wanted to know about it first with spoilers and all. On my quest I found your channel and am here for all of it!!! Liked Subscribed and HOOKED!!!
The christian god is not a god i would want to serve. At age 10 i remember thinking “wow this guy is a total jerk. Poor jesus” I rock with jesus. Hes cool. Hes the original rebel. And OG hippie.
You realize the Christian God is Jesus right? He’s neither a jerk or a “cool rebel” He preached that if your eye causes you to sin gouge it out because it’s better to enter Heaven with 1 eye than Hell with both. [among other things] Unfortunately I think like many of us you’ve heard a watered down “iteration” of Jesus & not the historical & biblical one. But if you think he’s cool I encourage you to actually learn about who He was, what He lived for & what He died for. It will change your life if you let it
@ the Christian God, the God of the Bible, aka the one true living God & creator of the universe and you is Yahweh - “I AM” if you read the Bible you’ll come to the conclusion The Father is Yahweh The Son is Yahweh The Holy Spirit is Yahweh. All uncreated eternal - God But the Son is not the Father, The Father is not The Spirit etc. this is something only God can reveal. Pray for wisdom for He gives to all that ask. But do not doubt for those who doubt receive nothing & are unstable in all they do
To me it said "believe what you want" with a view to saying "if it works out for you then it's the right belief" Good movie, helps people that don't usually question their beliefs to start down that road and seek out what they truly believe and why
All of Mr. Reed's protestations and cliched atheistic talking points came to nothing, ultimately, as he was intent on trapping innocent women in cages and physically harming them. There were some interesting taking points, yes...but it was an enjoyable popcorn flick, in my opinion. Certainly didn't stay with me like Smile 2, The Substance and Late Night With The Devil did, which were all films I was thinking about days after. The performances were universally impressive, however. Really enjoyed this video, by the way!
Because of the aesthetic background and flickering lamp, the more the narrator guy is explaining the movie, the more I think he’s in mr. Reed’s ACTUAL house of traps! 😬
That was wonderful Thomas. The segment at the end where you describe the influence of the Crucifixion upon the ordinary man and woman, reminds me of how the Rabbi, Jacob Libermann converted to Catholicism. He said to himself, "What a wonderful religion that must be, where a God sacrifices Himself for His creatures!". C.S. Lewis became a Protestant via the 'Christianity is the ultimate myth' argument, but...that is not a solid foundation for any religion. Jesus Christ was a historical person, not a myth.
The historical facts about him are slim, he is mentioned briefly and in passing as having existed long after his death. Certainly none of the famous details about him are historically attested which makes his life and deeds a myth.
@@truthhurts-g3o Josephus was born 35AD and wrote about Jesus around 95AD. He was not a witness, he only went on 2nd hand accounts by religious devotees. Would you expect an accurate assessment of L Ron Hubbard from a living Scientologist or would you expect dogma?
@@truthhurts-g3o Correct, "Antiquities of the Jews" was written about 95 years after the death of Jesus (95AD), or thereabouts. It would be like you trying to write a biography of a cult leader of the early 1930s based ONLY on what some of his FOURTH generation disciplines claimed about him. If you don't believe me you can research this for yourself.
the biggest take away for me was in the middle of the film when Mr Reed points out how controllable we become once we think we lost everything. Truth of it all is that those girls would have been able to walk out the front door in the morning when the timer gave way, as he pointed out.
I've watched multiple videos about this movie and you are the only to discuss the first appearance of the butterfly in Reed's house. Two things I haven't heard discussed anywhere: (1) didn't Paxton encounter Satanic iconography just before entering the cage room? And (2) did fire really interact differently with the two girls, as Reed claimed?
I loved heretic & as someone who grew up very religious (catholic), I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it when I first saw the trailer. I watched at least a dozen reviews on the movie so far & yours is the ONLY one to mention the beautiful sacrifice at the heart of many of those religions. Your take was wonderful and honestly the closest to my own that I've seen. That's not to say that anyone had the wrong take, but that's the beauty of a movie like this. Everyone can watch the same movie, and come away with a few different view based on their own personality & life experiences.
Yes I love that they didn't downplay the intelligence of both girls. I think the viewers are led to believe Paxton might not survive because she is a bit more soft-spoken but she correctly counters Mr. Reed and continues to fight for her faith. The characterization is great and dimensional
I watched this movie yesterday in Yuma, and it stuck with me afterward while I went shopping for household goods. Then, in the parking lot, it suddenly struck me that Mr. Reed is a polygamist, which ties in to things he'd said to the two Sisters about their church's history. --
well done, well done. I had the same question post the movie.. it's still so open ended, despite the whole movie explaining the point on control. and exactly, if it's about that, there is no need for such an elaborate story!
I went to see it on the last showtime they had and it was a slow burn. I wasn’t expecting it to be this intense depth. I left the theater more confused than scared. I liked the movie it just wasn’t what I thought going in
I see it as when Sister Paxton was praying, she surrendered to her fate of dying, in that moment she relinquished control and her fight to live and when she did a "miracle" happen; she allowed God to work and in that moment she was saved. the butterfly on her finger could of been her imagination. Nice ending either way because of how it leaves it open. Reminds me for the end of Inception
Good analogy. I watched the movie not knowing what it was about and the movie somewhat surprised me an upset me at the same time which is probably what it was designed to do. I love your examination and breakdown it was very clever.
I was a Mormon sister missionary. All missionaries are assigned to areas with strict boundaries and did not often compete for territory unless we came across Spanish speakers, in which case we would pass those referrals along to Spanish speaking missionaries, who might be male or female. I have taken referrals for single men and absolutely taught lessons on the front porch in the freezing cold because there was no woman at home.
@@SolisSolaris I was in the southern US, so the cold could've been worse, but I'd take the dry snowy cold of Utah for a few hours than the humid rainy cold of Louisiana for ten minutes any day.
Great analysis! As a spiritualist who believes in the power of I AM and the teachings of Neville Goddard… Sister Paxton manifested in her imagination her ability to transform as she did in the end in to what I believe was her reflection as the butterfly. She is/was god. Goddard lifts the imagination as this powerful tool for manifesting. He teaches to experience the end (of that desired outcome) as the beginning. As this relates to sister Paxton she was able to feel through her imagination the sense of her own divinity and ability to serve as a spirit guide to everyone she loves by landing on their hand…as she stated in the beginning so beautifully and candidly. Whether she’s dead or alive in the end, I believe that she had experienced her own reflection as a butterfly literally or symbolically signifying her freedom and ability to manifest her vision. The power of her belief in prayer was exemplified in the scene when she so peacefully settled into prayer during what could have been the most horrifying time of her final moments. In this moment I am compelled to this prayer she so gracefully exemplified: Peace be still and know that I AM… I know very little about the Bible but I know that we can access divine intelligence that is truly free infinite and powerful. The divine in its I intelligence found a way to send yet another omen to me by way of this movie as I believe many of our experiences provide daily.. so I dare to say that “Heretic” is Prophetic!
haha everyone’s interpretation of the ending is making me feel stupid. I just assumed the butterfly fly was sister Barnes . Yes, it was sister Paxton’s idea of coming back as one but remember when he mixed them up at the beginning. There has to be a meaning for that right.
Lack of evidence isn't quite proof of nonexistence. Plenty of people left nothing behind when they died. What lack of evidence does prove is that your belief doesn't come from an objective evaluation of fact. But we speak of faith, here. Nobody empiricals themselves into a religion ;-)
One small aspect about the nails that you missed is that there are three of them in the shape of a triangle representing the holy trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The imagery of "Three Nails and a Cross" also embodies the triumph of good over evil, so the plank of wood with three nails being used as the tool to save Paxton's life by a sacrificial Barnes could also double as reference to this common belief amongst Christians.
By putting 1 source from 2013 supposedly debunking the similarity between Horus & Jesus & by also giving your interpretation of what your beliefs are on Christianity, you only proved the message of the "villain", which is even with no proof in hand people will push their unoriginal beliefs that have been passed down for decades/centuries.
As another video pointed out, it could be that Barnes did die, and eventually Pacston dies too; so what you are witnessing is before Sister Pacston dies die, the audience sees Sister Pacstons’ end of life wish before death, hence here delusion before death. And That delusion is that Barnes was not dead. This is why I do not think that scene was reality. It was end of life delusion right before death of course. Both girls died, and Mr. Read dies as well. That is the reality of it.
Ok thinking about this even deeper, if everything which surrounds Mr. Reed is a manifestation of his own thought interpretations, which is actually innocent, not saying his actions are innocent, but the response to his beliefs. If that is what created his whole castle/construct of beliefs, then it is as if he called the sisters to him, to deconstruct that illusion, even at his own peril.
I personally would not recommend the movie because it was not what I expected it to be but upon watching these trailers and explanatory videos you might determine it IS your cup of tea.
I have to say I always love your films' analysis. You see the layers that most people miss. But in regards to the message that the writers are trying to convey through Mr. REED, I have a different opinion on that. Just because the villain is defeated doesn't mean the truths that he illuminates are wrong. In fact this is a design of many films. Writers often use the villain to illuminate the truths they want us to grasp. In a way, the villain and the fact that he dies or is defeated is the perfect cover, because he allows the writers to recuse themselves from the accusation of spreading propaganda or preaching to us. But the villain's existence and essence-if he is a really great villain-transcends his defeat. Because we've lived that experience with him and peered the truth behind his eyes. The villain's fatal sin is not in his thinking but often in the radical and transgressive nature of his actions. What Mr. REED does in this movie is almost exactly what religion does to people: controlling them. The only difference is what is his extremist and evil actions. I also find it revealing that Mr. REED gets stabbed in the neck only after he's told us what he wanted us to know all along, what the central theme is: that religion is truly about control.
Well the other explanation of ending is that sister paxton was killed in the basement and the other girl never woke up to save her it was all her imagination that her brain produced when she was dying also her getting out of the basement and the butterfly on her hand was herself dead, when she realized it butterfly disappeared and movie ended and the music "knock knock to the heaven door" started :D
The crucifixion was not in Egyptian myths, but it is part of the Qur'an. Almost all old major myths and religions have a "flooding" myth in their tales.
Did anyone like the symbolism of how both doors lead to the same basement?
Whether you believe or don't believe, we're all trapped in the dark of not knowing
Grant deserves an Oscar for this film.
More so then Mickey Blue Eyes, say it aint so
An Oscar?? Lmaoo no
@@nahhhbruhhh I mean it really demonstrates his range this movie.
Don’t be mean.
This is a GREAT movie but the ending kinda ruined it. Its okay but they could have done it better. Show don’t tell but the movie is kinda explaining a lot of things to us.
In the movie, it’s striking how the two Mormon missionaries reveal a depth and intelligence that the villain overlooked. Their faith drives them to acts of courage, while his to acts of cruelty. A thoughtful take on how beliefs shape behavior-sometimes in surprising ways.
Yeah, sure they walked into a grown man's house and took his word for it that his wife was there without question that's what faith gets you; that's why it's called faith/instead of using common sense and healthy skepticism. Their faith got them dead. I choose critical thinking and healthy skepticism over faith any day!
omg i love that!!!!!!
@@Mehki227it’s why Ted Bundy was able to prey so heavily on the Mormon community in Utah so easily. Religion opens people up to trust without thinking. “Oh Ted is a member, he is safe.” Stop being sheep people. Wake up and start thinking.
@@Bigbluedometed bumdy in utah. Didnt think of that. I read his book to stranger in the night. Good one.
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@@Bigbluedome better to be an innocent sheep than a piece of garbage.
I don’t believe sister Barnes uses the plank of wood. I think it’s the final manifestation of sister Paxton, who ends up dying. The butterfly appearing and then disappearing and the light shinning bright in the background of the last scene is what brings it home for me.
That’s how I saw it too
Oohhhhhh I never thought of that I like it 👌
I also think there are no survivors in this story. It’s all a tragedy in the end.
Exactly!! The same way she said the prophet was having a hallucination.. So my thought is she was actually entering death. The last scene with the wood, and the butterfly was exactly that. The transformation of the mind into the dying phase
Also when the heck has anyone ever seen a butterfly in the cold snow
Saw Heretic yesterday. Brilliant film. Script and production fabulous. Grant was extremely entertaining.
I've heard poor reports regarding the ending. What are your thoughts?
@targaryangirlalways5634 I admit that it was left "up in the air"; maybe a sequel?
@ no one got stabbed at the end? The girls lived?
@@targaryangirlalways5634 not telling; I cannot spoil it for you. Go see it, you will enjoy it.
My take away from the movie is that religion as an institution is not real and it’s a deception to make money it’s a marketing scam. But beliefs and hopes are objective. Whether you believe or don’t both are real to each individual because people make their own realities. And I agree with this🤝
Good point.
May I interest you in my own expansion on a similar interpretation?
As you said, we each see our own realities. In the ending, Mr. Reed could only see the selfish aspects of religion, while sister Paxton could only see the selfless aspects. Praying for her attacker was a perfect example of the meekness we mormons are taught as kids.
When the selfless and meek continuously give into the controlling and selfish among us, they are merely churned up in a system designed only to collect and control more and more people and wealth.
If we stand up against the most controlling aspects of our religion, what we are left with is the other side of the "true religion" coin. Control of others Self-sacrifice.
As hard as it is to see both sides of a coin at once, it is even more difficult to see control and even abuse as anything but love when they've confused the two for you your whole life.
Few people who haven't been a cult member before will pick up on some of the following, I suspect:
Mr. Reed's ability to behave as if everything is totally ok and normal while sitting in a room with a fresh corpse perfectly embodies how we LDS just grin and play along when presented the more culty parts of our religion.
When I hear a member explain how one of Joseph Smith's many flaws actually strengthened their testimony of the prophet, it can feel like someone casually or even excitedly telling you the corpse in the room isn't a red flag.
Sister Paxton did something similar while bearing her pornographically inspired testimony. You can say the most bizzarre things with a believing tone/take-away and go unquestioned in most LDS Sunday schools.
I heard an elder give a nearly identicle testimony about pornography while serving on my mission. Whenever he shared his experience of struggling with a pornography addiction he would testify to seeing "every bit of joy and the light of Christ leave her eyes", referring to a porn actress.
This movie is uncannily accurate in it's portrayal of LDS missionaries in my opinion. A very difficult task. When you're not a part of an in-group, it's nearly impossible to mimic the subtle signals we use to identify our own. Heretic contains the most true depiction of my people in any piece of media, including church produced.
I left the church this year. Before that, I wouldn't have even allowed myself to watch a review of this movie. But now, it feels like it depicts so much of my specific journey out of organized religion. This film is the purest gold in my eyes. I absolutely love it.
Edit: I do think Topher Grace's character needed some more time in the oven though. Thankfully there wasn't much of him.
You were the target audience of this film, unfortunately for you.
One could say that about your religion. Unfortunately for you. @@tomjarjar9524
@@tomjarjar9524you clearly have an opinion tom, have it. Share with the class
We need to normalize nominating horror films for Oscar nominations
I think the fact that the butterfly was trapped inside the house is symbolic to represent that Paxton does not truly escape, and they both die there in the basement. The final scenes are a dream-like portrayal of what she prayed/wished would have occurred.
The snow was the light at the end of her tunnel.
they cease to hurt anymore tho, so Mormons still won. against all the religions or philosophies out there-- the mormon sisters still won.
@@darthkek1953 and then it cuts to black.
@@Mrcockington Just like real life.
That plank of wood had three nails. A nail through each of Jesus’ hands and one through the feet. Representing self sacrifice so that others can live.
Also the Holy Trinity.
6 is a perverse inverse of that number and the three nails are used to dispatch the villain finally.
Jesus is held up by rope, not nails.
Please watch The Passion of Christ to get a fuller scope of the sacrifice.
Reducing it to simply three undermines the extent of forgiveness and the full power it can hold
@@ObsessiveGeek John 20:24-25 so the Gospel of John reports wounds in the risen Jesus's hands. But, you’re saying to watch a Hollywood movie for accuracy on the crucifixion? No, I’m going to go with the Bible instead, OK?
Yes, the three nails of the crucifixion, the holy Trinity and the three books of monotheism (the Abrahamic religions). .. also the Hollies, Radiohead and Lana Del Rey. 😅 jk
@@MFLimited WOUNDS are not nails. The details of crucifixion are actually quite well known as it is a known historical punishment.
I was pointing to that movie, which is incredibly accurate to what is known and as well as what is stated in the Bible as a source of understanding the full extent of the sacrifice.
As I very clearly stated, reducing that to simply three is incredibly shallow just so it can fit into some metaphorical symbolism - the reality is deep enough without the need to add or find other meaning behind it.
I really liked your take on why the butterfly was used as symbolism for reincarnation. It also goes to show that Sister Paxton was young, and as a young person, you may be influenced to believe and think a certain way but she was enamored with non traditional ideas in which she found beauty, comfort, solace and hope. The behaviors of Barnes and Paxton also reflect the reflective intelligence that many youth under organized religion represent when they are willing to think outside the box where in they’ve been influenced to believe in.
Moral of the story: don't go into strangers house; change the settings of where you do these recruitment talks.
That's kind of the entire point though. These religious folks who go door to door are trying to catch people off guard, in their place of comfort, and prey on them.
The "moral" of the story is that magic underwear makes Mormon girls horny, and thusly closer to the heart of Mystery religion...the rape of Persephone by Hades. Very simple.🤠
Are you serious right now. My man shared the gospel and spoiled a movie at the same. I am here for it 😊
Yeah he spewed a bunch of religious garbage and wasted minutes he should have been talking about the movie. Also all the info in this is disingenuous. Eg. There are so many more religions christianity ripped off than just Horus. The entire Bible is a compilation of stories, more than half of it is literally the "old" testament, old meaning the Jewish torah. Christianity blatantly stole the Jewish holy book. It's all lies.
Oh my god. Mormons again, full of themselves.
❤🌳
🎾😔🌸
He’s my father
Or was sister Barnes resurrection nothing more than an hallucination of a woman passing, and her trust in prayer easing that passing?
Sister Barnes earlier explains the phenomena of near death experience from a scientific perspective.
I liked this movie for the multiple interpretations that can be put forth...Much like religion when I think about it.
Yes.. she did die, the butterfly at the end was the clue.
…and the fact that her phone, when thrown outside, still had no signal. Why show that? Because the phone was in reality still in the basement, as was she.
The way Sister Barnes explains a scientific near death experience is nothing like what Sister Paxton experiences. Nothing. So we have to decide for ourselves. Considering the last words of Sister Paxton, that the power of prayer is non existent but that she thought it was nice that we pray for each other. In the end she just thought her way was superior, rather than his choice of cruelty. She chose innocence. Which is beautiful on its own. But what happened was that she was rescued through violence; either a temporarily resurrected woman, or one that wasn’t quite dead yet. Paxton escaped and, therefore, would be able to save all of the other women. This was normal final girls stuff until the, unseasonal, butterfly lands on her hand. Is it a sign that she’s dreaming it all? Or is it God, restoring her faith?
@@MFLimited I think it's a contradiction to say the near death explanation was nothing like Sister Barnes described, and then thatwe have to decide for ourselves what the ending means.
Sister Paxton's prayer at the end could induce a more positive final hallucination. For me it had a "Jacobs Ladder" vibe to it, but I fully understand how others could get a completely different interpretation.
Every one of the post death hypothesis explored in the movie could be interpreted at the end. None of them line up exactly with any of the beliefs explored. That was the whole point of the movie's ending.
IMO, It also breaks away from the final girl trope, as most of Sister Paxtons moves were predicted, and her demise obviously makes that trope irrelevant. But, I see how it could be seen that way.
@@AfroGaz71exactly. "contradictory to popular beliefs and notions of established religious norms or customs" - heresy
Great review and analysis of this movie and let me add that you have a very soothing and beautifully haunting voice I feel you would be amazing voicing audio books
Voicing audio books is a dead art kind of thing.... You must not have heard of this thing we have now called AI.
Expert analysis, you earned my sub. I would also add that the blueberry pie candle as a part of the simulation that tricked their senses into thinking a certain thing (that his wife was cooking a pie). If that fooled them, then what else is capturing your attention but is actually a shadow of Plato's allegorical cave? 😶
Once she saw the candle she knew something was up
Hugh showed he was into witchcraft that was his religion
Figurine of kali and the witchcraft symbols at the end where he kept the women
A lot of whose witchcraft symbols were Jewish Kabbalah.
The reason those symbols were there, is that Reed built his prison in the form of Dante's Paradise (hence the illustration of 'Paradiso' on Reeds wall). Paxton was in the final level of hell at that point, that's why all of the symbolism and books were about satanism. They started in the church room, and progressed to increasingly hellish levels.
14:29-14:35 is a bar. Really loved this analysis! Need to watch more your vids 🔥
Right! Thats what earned my sub!
Sister Paxton dies. When she gets outside, her phone has no signal. Because she's hallucinating as she's dying
Yep. Also it's snowy...it was pouring rain when they entered the house.
Control is about the need for the individual to feel in control, in a world where there is little to none.
It's not just about control of other people.
You didn't mention that Sister Barnes was resurrected in order to save the sins of man. ie her friend whose faith was wavering.
Was she though? That's just your interpretation. Another interpretation is she wasn't quite dead yet. And that's what's great about this movie - it won't give you answers, it won't tell you what to think
@evasirova3985 I'm speaking in relation to the religious aspect of the crucifixion which is explicitly discussed in the video. Clearly this makes sense as opposed to the regular horror trope of her not really being dead. But yes, yours is also a viable interpretation, although in the context of the subject matter it would seem rather out of context. Plus who survives after bleeding out from a slit throat. Come on now!
@@missthea5259 I think now you are heavily interpreting... The movie is quite clear in its ambiguity. It leaves it blatantly open for viewers to make their own truth. The whole point of the film is, that it solely depends on YOUR perspective on faith whether you believe a thing is a miracle or not.
And on the slit throat part: It heavily depends on how deep the cut is and whether the artery is completely severed or just punctuated and also whether the windpipe is cut as well or not. If the cut isn't too deep and the windpipe intact it can take quite some time to faint and even longer to bleed out, even hours. The filmmakers make sure to show us just a very short cut and some bleeding, so it's absolutely in the realm of possibility that she just passed out and died later. Or that it was a miracle. Again: Whether you choose to believe one or the other comes down to you, no one else.
@pervertesacker7131 I'm speaking in metaphorical terms. This seems to not be getting through. This whole video commentary is metaphorical so I went with that tone in my comment. I am not a religious person. My comment is in keeping with the film's themes. So yes you're right. It's an inerpretarion. As is EVERYTHING the video exposites.
Re the throat....from the way the blood spilled onto her hands, I think we can safely see that it was not a s shallow cut.
And no, here I'm definitely not being metaphorical. I think it's just a.bad/misleading shot which eliminates the subtlety the film is trying to convey. Bleeding at that rate, where is she getting the strength so long afterwards to pick up a plank of wood, aim, and hit with such strength?
It's so weird the way subtlety is so willfully understood in online commentary.
And finally...we all all HEAVILY interpreting here. That's what this whole conversation is about. You're absolutely right... mine is an interpretation. We can agree on that.
I'm just rather unsure as to why you're so heavily invested in 'disproving' a mere interpretation though. 🤷🏽♀️
It seems this way, paxton prays and all of a sudden barnes comes to, saving her friend. In the same way today, God uses his (active force)ho,y spirit along with myriads of angels to help righteous hearted individuals, especially in the spreading message of his coming kingdom . ❤ love your videos. Keep up the great work.
Excellent, thought provoking movie and analysis.
Wow this was a very thorough and well researched review. Not sure of your background but you do seem to have quite a grasp on the idea of comparitive religions
Man, I really love your review here! * And gotta give it to your sleeping house-mate, your soft voice during this whole thing is beautiful. You might wanna consider using it for other pieces you do. Seriously fit the mood for this one. Anyway, I subscribed to you, and I will watch your “Tell-Tale Heart” short film that you mentioned.
I really loved “HERETIC”, way more than I expected. Your take on it here enriched it even more for me. Cheers, Good Sir.
Does anyone know why Mr Reid knew sister Barnes' history with her father dying etc? No one really addresses it, but it was weird. Did I miss something?
That and the detailed microchip removed from Barnes arm, like WTF?! 🤨🤔
Good video for lunch break, saving it for later💪🏾💯🔥
It’s a cross between the Saw movies and The Book Of Mormon musical 🤣
Haha yes!
When the girls referenced south park 😂
I thought the point of the film was to get justice for Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood, and Elizabeth Magie.
Great review and lovely voice ❤. Saw the film last night and loved it!
I have a strange interpretation of the ending, not sure if it makes sense. How I saw it is that Sister Paxton did die when she was praying, then she saw the butterfly, and when the butterfly disappeared it meant that she was brought back to life (assuming that the church elder maybe came back, ambulance, etc).
I interpreted that she was hallucinating it, and she thought that the butterfly was sister barnes. like how barnes mentioned earlier in the movie that when you're close to death you start seeing things. I think sister paxton probably took it as a sign that barnes was showing her that the god is real & giving her hope by landing on her fingertips. Then also how sister paxton said that even though we know prayer doesn't work, it's still beautiful that we do it anyway. So I think the message is that it doesn't matter if the butterfly was really sister barnes's spirit or just a hallucination because it meant everything to sister paxton in that moment and either she died with relief & love in her heart, or it gave her enough hope to keep her alive until help arrived.
She was dead? I was trying to make sense of the cell phone too.
@@stellabrown909they weren’t able to use their cellphones inside the house because of the metal he had inside the walls to cut off signal access. The last scene just shows that the cell phone regained signal when she escaped but not much more I feel.
Remember when he talked about the butterfly dreaming he was a man or the man dreaming he was a butterfly? I felt there was a connection with that seemingly important statement and the very end but I'm not smart enough to make the connection
The way Sister Barnes explains a scientific near death experience is nothing like what Sister Paxton experiences. Nothing. So we have to decide for ourselves. Considering the last words of Sister Paxton, that the power of prayer is non existent but that she thought it was nice that we pray for each other. In the end she just thought her way was superior, rather than his choice of cruelty. She chose innocence. Which is beautiful on its own. But what happened was that she was rescued through violence; either a temporarily resurrected woman, or one that wasn’t quite dead yet. Paxton escaped and, therefore, would be able to save all of the other women. This was normal final girls stuff until the, unseasonal, butterfly lands on her hand. Is it a sign that she’s dreaming it all? Or is it God, restoring her faith?
I like to think it’s God . But her mobile phone says otherwise…. but, if she could imagine escaping, I don’t see why she couldn’t imagine her phone working.
In that vein, Mr Reed/Read reps the danger of a sort of sociopathic, academic, pragmatic exploration of doubt that leads to cruelty because it’s completely divorced of love, empathy, and true benign mysticism. Also his jumper is a “coat of many colours”.
You broke this down beautifully and is exactly what i took from it as well. Sister paxton praying at the end for them both wasnt because she was afraid of dying, it is because she has a selfless and humble heart. Which is why i became a Christian. Not because im afraid of dying but because the self sacrificial message of Jesus dying for us makes me want to be a better person and live a better life for myself and others.
Christianity and God doesnt control me. Im not "trapped" by blind faith into following rules. (I used to be an athiest and came to believe in Christ at 30 years old.) Christianty INSPIRES me to want to do what is moral and right - not out of fear of punishment - but because the faith brings light into what can often be a dark and broken world and i want to be a part of that light. Thats what true Christianity is about.
God doesnt expect us to be perfect, he knows we are sinners till we die. He has given us the gift of salvation through Jesus' sacrifice, and it is up to us to accept that gift or not. He is not here to punish us, it is us who punish ourselves by not accepting his gift of mercy and forgiveness.
Christianity was brought to the masses through the Catholic church... which is absolute about control. then later profit.
sorry but your god is a cruel and malevolent god. why do so many children die from cancers and illness? why is there a parasite worm in africa who's whole life cycle is to find a human eye and borrow in to it causing blindness? a god that loves us would never create such awful things
Loved this. Actually added depth and interesting points to the story instead of forcing out a meaning. Found myself relating so much to barnes. Great analysis without being too preachy 👍
I think the shot in the beginning where the bikes are locked together is cool foreshadowing.
The look on Grants face when they ask would you like to hear more about the blah blah blah is classic.
this is the best best analysis of the film i’ve seen yet!! thank you!!!!
Amazing analysis! Now I love the film even more.
I hope you do one for Frailty. That movie messed me up. I definitely questioned what I thought I was prepared for.
Am I the only who noticed at the end of the movie when Grant and sister Paxton were in the room with caged women his voice changed for 0.01 sec
I have been wanting to see this movie but wanted to know about it first with spoilers and all. On my quest I found your channel and am here for all of it!!! Liked Subscribed and HOOKED!!!
The christian god is not a god i would want to serve. At age 10 i remember thinking “wow this guy is a total jerk. Poor jesus”
I rock with jesus. Hes cool. Hes the original rebel. And OG hippie.
You realize the Christian God is Jesus right?
He’s neither a jerk or a “cool rebel”
He preached that if your eye causes you to sin gouge it out because it’s better to enter Heaven with 1 eye than Hell with both. [among other things]
Unfortunately I think like many of us you’ve heard a watered down “iteration” of Jesus & not the historical & biblical one. But if you think he’s cool I encourage you to actually learn about who He was, what He lived for & what He died for. It will change your life if you let it
Holy hell u don't know the basic gospel 💀
@ so tell him
I thought the christian god was yahweh, and Jesus his only begotten son? ....
@ the Christian God, the God of the Bible, aka the one true living God & creator of the universe and you is Yahweh - “I AM” if you read the Bible you’ll come to the conclusion
The Father is Yahweh
The Son is Yahweh
The Holy Spirit is Yahweh.
All uncreated eternal - God
But the Son is not the Father, The Father is not The Spirit etc.
this is something only God can reveal. Pray for wisdom for He gives to all that ask. But do not doubt for those who doubt receive nothing & are unstable in all they do
To me it said "believe what you want" with a view to saying "if it works out for you then it's the right belief"
Good movie, helps people that don't usually question their beliefs to start down that road and seek out what they truly believe and why
Damn finally a good movie analysis👏 I love that movie! Also don't apologize for wishpering it was really relaxing and matched the tone of the film lol
Excellent review and thank you.
All of Mr. Reed's protestations and cliched atheistic talking points came to nothing, ultimately, as he was intent on trapping innocent women in cages and physically harming them. There were some interesting taking points, yes...but it was an enjoyable popcorn flick, in my opinion. Certainly didn't stay with me like Smile 2, The Substance and Late Night With The Devil did, which were all films I was thinking about days after. The performances were universally impressive, however.
Really enjoyed this video, by the way!
Because of the aesthetic background and flickering lamp, the more the narrator guy is explaining the movie, the more I think he’s in mr. Reed’s ACTUAL house of traps! 😬
That was wonderful Thomas. The segment at the end where you describe the influence of the Crucifixion upon the ordinary man and woman, reminds me of how the Rabbi, Jacob Libermann converted to Catholicism. He said to himself, "What a wonderful religion that must be, where a God sacrifices Himself for His creatures!". C.S. Lewis became a Protestant via the 'Christianity is the ultimate myth' argument, but...that is not a solid foundation for any religion. Jesus Christ was a historical person, not a myth.
The historical facts about him are slim, he is mentioned briefly and in passing as having existed long after his death. Certainly none of the famous details about him are historically attested which makes his life and deeds a myth.
@@darthkek1953 So was Flavius Josephus just some dumb-ass from the dark ages?
@@truthhurts-g3o Josephus was born 35AD and wrote about Jesus around 95AD. He was not a witness, he only went on 2nd hand accounts by religious devotees. Would you expect an accurate assessment of L Ron Hubbard from a living Scientologist or would you expect dogma?
@@darthkek1953 95AD?
@@truthhurts-g3o Correct, "Antiquities of the Jews" was written about 95 years after the death of Jesus (95AD), or thereabouts. It would be like you trying to write a biography of a cult leader of the early 1930s based ONLY on what some of his FOURTH generation disciplines claimed about him. If you don't believe me you can research this for yourself.
Best. Review. Ever. ❤ Thank you! I really enjoyed your analysis!
Ah thank you very much!
wow, what a beautiful voice
It's perfect for listening to while going to sleep!
the biggest take away for me was in the middle of the film when Mr Reed points out how controllable we become once we think we lost everything. Truth of it all is that those girls would have been able to walk out the front door in the morning when the timer gave way, as he pointed out.
I've watched multiple videos about this movie and you are the only to discuss the first appearance of the butterfly in Reed's house. Two things I haven't heard discussed anywhere: (1) didn't Paxton encounter Satanic iconography just before entering the cage room? And (2) did fire really interact differently with the two girls, as Reed claimed?
You earned a subscriber. Well done you. Nice video.
I loved heretic & as someone who grew up very religious (catholic), I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it when I first saw the trailer. I watched at least a dozen reviews on the movie so far & yours is the ONLY one to mention the beautiful sacrifice at the heart of many of those religions. Your take was wonderful and honestly the closest to my own that I've seen. That's not to say that anyone had the wrong take, but that's the beauty of a movie like this. Everyone can watch the same movie, and come away with a few different view based on their own personality & life experiences.
great analysis mate. subscribed 👍
I also enjoyed how they didn’t make the characters blindly stupid a more believable story about the schism and skepticism
Yes I love that they didn't downplay the intelligence of both girls.
I think the viewers are led to believe Paxton might not survive because she is a bit more soft-spoken but she correctly counters Mr. Reed and continues to fight for her faith. The characterization is great and dimensional
What a fantastic review
Watched this yesterday. Hugh Grant was excellent. I was gripped!
How did he plan for the doorbell to ring just after the prophet had eaten the pie?
I thought the same thing.
Is he not a diety?
He had a hidden timer for the lights and locks, so maybe he had a timer or button for the doorbell?
@JuanMPalacio no there was definitely someone at the door
@@glengarryglenross7127 Yes, but he could have also had one, which he then didn’t use after the Mormon guy rang.
Hey, Great ASMR Video. MORE!
Very insightful comments. May I lower the tone by asking: would Mr. Reed be more or less intimidating with a fedora and a neckbeard?
Very neat video analysis my friend, thanks for the content keep it up!
Excellent analysis
Excellent analysis, love your channel. Have you looked into the MK Ultra program and some theories about the "monarch control program" ? Chilling.
Great video, Thomas.
Why would anyone but a serial killer request religious people into their home to speak about their faith.?!
Millions of victims are sucked into the dangerous Mormon cult by these street recruiters. If one ever approaches you... RUN!!!
This is the best explanation of this movie and more , thank you
What's the music you used for this the guitar?
'Anomalous Hedges' by The Mini Vandals for anyone still wondering it was in his description
Well done, sorry was just about to reply to this!
I watched this movie yesterday in Yuma, and it stuck with me afterward while I went shopping for household goods. Then, in the parking lot, it suddenly struck me that Mr. Reed is a polygamist, which ties in to things he'd said to the two Sisters about their church's history.
--
Ok here is what most people missed: Mr. Reed, is God. Rewatch the movie.
I like this take
Control -what a religion
Such an insightful and great review!
Are you saying Mister Reed? Or Mystery? Say it out loud. Mr. Reed, mystery
@fukyutu you nailed it!!!! 😂
Why not Mister Ree then? Too obvious?
well done, well done. I had the same question post the movie.. it's still so open ended, despite the whole movie explaining the point on control. and exactly, if it's about that, there is no need for such an elaborate story!
I went to see it on the last showtime they had and it was a slow burn. I wasn’t expecting it to be this intense depth. I left the theater more confused than scared. I liked the movie it just wasn’t what I thought going in
I see it as when Sister Paxton was praying, she surrendered to her fate of dying, in that moment she relinquished control and her fight to live and when she did a "miracle" happen; she allowed God to work and in that moment she was saved. the butterfly on her finger could of been her imagination. Nice ending either way because of how it leaves it open. Reminds me for the end of Inception
Good analogy.
I watched the movie not knowing what it was about and the movie somewhat surprised me an upset me at the same time which is probably what it was designed to do. I love your examination and breakdown it was very clever.
Plot hole is that I think the LDS would have sent 2 men to Mr. Reed, not 2 women.
I was a Mormon sister missionary. All missionaries are assigned to areas with strict boundaries and did not often compete for territory unless we came across Spanish speakers, in which case we would pass those referrals along to Spanish speaking missionaries, who might be male or female. I have taken referrals for single men and absolutely taught lessons on the front porch in the freezing cold because there was no woman at home.
@@lemueljr1496 oh how interesting! Thank you for educating me, sincerely. You must be tough to weather that kind of cold. 🥶
@@SolisSolaris I was in the southern US, so the cold could've been worse, but I'd take the dry snowy cold of Utah for a few hours than the humid rainy cold of Louisiana for ten minutes any day.
Missionaries aren't "tough", they're brainwashed Mormons.
I ❤your explanations of movies, big fan here ❤
Anyone notice her hand is blood free when the butterfly lands then in an instant the butterfly vanishes and that same hand becomes instantly bloody
Nah, that's not true. Just checked again and it's bloody in both shots.
The sound of the Spoilers were great, despite the roommate and their issues.
Great analysis! As a spiritualist who believes in the power of I AM and the teachings of Neville Goddard… Sister Paxton manifested in her imagination her ability to transform as she did in the end in to what I believe was her reflection as the butterfly. She is/was god. Goddard lifts the imagination as this powerful tool for manifesting. He teaches to experience the end (of that desired outcome) as the beginning. As this relates to sister Paxton she was able to feel through her imagination the sense of her own divinity and ability to serve as a spirit guide to everyone she loves by landing on their hand…as she stated in the beginning so beautifully and candidly. Whether she’s dead or alive in the end, I believe that she had experienced her own reflection as a butterfly literally or symbolically signifying her freedom and ability to manifest her vision. The power of her belief in prayer was exemplified in the scene when she so peacefully settled into prayer during what could have been the most horrifying time of her final moments. In this moment I am compelled to this prayer she so gracefully exemplified: Peace be still and know that I AM… I know very little about the Bible but I know that we can access divine intelligence that is truly free infinite and powerful. The divine in its I intelligence found a way to send yet another omen to me by way of this movie as I believe many of our experiences provide daily.. so I dare to say that
“Heretic” is Prophetic!
I am ? You are what?
@ you mean who? The Empowerment Empress!
@@EmpowermentEmpress oh cool 😎 learning is wonderful.
@ I AM is you too- if you believe 😁
haha everyone’s interpretation of the ending is making me feel stupid. I just assumed the butterfly fly was sister Barnes . Yes, it was sister Paxton’s idea of coming back as one but remember when he mixed them up at the beginning. There has to be a meaning for that right.
You can interpret it in many ways - you have faith in your interpretation or are open to others interpretations.
Billions of interpretations, but there can only be one way an event takes place, one truth. So how do we find it? Or have you already...
I swear I would not be able to survive this movie which is legitimately scary 😨
You're right, Egyptology doesn't disprove the existence of Jesus. The complete lack of any and all evidence of him does.❤
Religious folks don't get the "it borrows some elements" and instead think: "It's not true, it's slightly different!!!" 😆
Lack of evidence isn't quite proof of nonexistence. Plenty of people left nothing behind when they died. What lack of evidence does prove is that your belief doesn't come from an objective evaluation of fact. But we speak of faith, here. Nobody empiricals themselves into a religion ;-)
My man here in 15 minutes goes from cinema to the gospel and to Taoism...awesome insights
How the hell did you see this and spoil it so early
It's already out in the UK.
I’m happy he did because I was going to watch it lol.
@ you’re not now?
@@milestones140 sorry I meant to type was not. I am to scary to actually watch horror films but I can’t handle the review of them.
Dude this ain't even scary like people think.
One small aspect about the nails that you missed is that there are three of them in the shape of a triangle representing the holy trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The imagery of "Three Nails and a Cross" also embodies the triumph of good over evil, so the plank of wood with three nails being used as the tool to save Paxton's life by a sacrificial Barnes could also double as reference to this common belief amongst Christians.
I felt Heretic was showing how religion can be controlling but it’s also a question, a knowing, a right of passage that most of us sense.
Before Campbell there was Vladimir Propp with his Morphology of the Folktale (1929) and other works. Worth a read!
By putting 1 source from 2013 supposedly debunking the similarity between Horus & Jesus & by also giving your interpretation of what your beliefs are on Christianity, you only proved the message of the "villain", which is even with no proof in hand people will push their unoriginal beliefs that have been passed down for decades/centuries.
As a Hindu from India I found this a veiled sermon about Christianity.
As another video pointed out, it could be that Barnes did die, and eventually Pacston dies too; so what you are witnessing is before Sister Pacston dies die, the audience sees Sister Pacstons’ end of life wish before death, hence here delusion before death. And That delusion is that Barnes was not dead. This is why I do not think that scene was reality. It was end of life delusion right before death of course. Both girls died, and Mr. Read dies as well. That is the reality of it.
Did you notice on the model of the house, both the 'belief' and 'disbelief' doors led to the basement, either choice leads to the same outcome, maybe?
Ok thinking about this even deeper, if everything which surrounds Mr. Reed is a manifestation of his own thought interpretations, which is actually innocent, not saying his actions are innocent, but the response to his beliefs. If that is what created his whole castle/construct of beliefs, then it is as if he called the sisters to him, to deconstruct that illusion, even at his own peril.
I personally would not recommend the movie because it was not what I expected it to be but upon watching these trailers and explanatory videos you might determine it IS your cup of tea.
Also possibly symbolism of the board itself… 3 nails, the holy trinity ?
What if Mr. Reed just nailed things together like this because triangles make a stronger formation?
@@fitybux4664 What if he was a fictional character and the filmmakers decided on how this plank should look?
I have to say I always love your films' analysis. You see the layers that most people miss. But in regards to the message that the writers are trying to convey through Mr. REED, I have a different opinion on that. Just because the villain is defeated doesn't mean the truths that he illuminates are wrong. In fact this is a design of many films. Writers often use the villain to illuminate the truths they want us to grasp. In a way, the villain and the fact that he dies or is defeated is the perfect cover, because he allows the writers to recuse themselves from the accusation of spreading propaganda or preaching to us. But the villain's existence and essence-if he is a really great villain-transcends his defeat. Because we've lived that experience with him and peered the truth behind his eyes.
The villain's fatal sin is not in his thinking but often in the radical and transgressive nature of his actions.
What Mr. REED does in this movie is almost exactly what religion does to people: controlling them. The only difference is what is his extremist and evil actions.
I also find it revealing that Mr. REED gets stabbed in the neck only after he's told us what he wanted us to know all along, what the central theme is: that religion is truly about control.
A24 made a whole movie threatening off those irritating mormon solicitors lmaooo
Well the other explanation of ending is that sister paxton was killed in the basement and the other girl never woke up to save her it was all her imagination that her brain produced when she was dying also her getting out of the basement and the butterfly on her hand was herself dead, when she realized it butterfly disappeared and movie ended and the music "knock knock to the heaven door" started :D
Thank you. I enjoyed this movie but it also disturbed me. Thanks for the perspective
A big part is the illusion of choice.
Regardless of choices the sisters were going to end up in the dungeon / lounge room etc.
The crucifixion was not in Egyptian myths, but it is part of the Qur'an. Almost all old major myths and religions have a "flooding" myth in their tales.
you change my mind about the ending