QUESTION EVERYTHING.

When two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East) knock on the door of a house belonging to a friendly Englishman (Hugh Grant), they have no idea what they’re in for.

Exactly what that is, in this arresting horror flick, remains unclear for a long time and it’s impressive how the writer-directors have us hooked in the meantime, using Grant’s traditional screen persona as a creepy asset and his character’s probing questions on the merits of religion as a series of clues to what makes him tick. The cinematography skillfully turns Mr. Reed’s house into a maze-like chamber of horrors.

Loses some of its grip near the end.

2024-U.S. 111 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods. Cinematography: Chung Chung-hoon. Cast: Hugh Grant (Mr. Reed), Sophie Thatcher (Sister Barnes), Chloe East (Sister Paxton), Topher Grace, Elle Young.  

Last word: “I think they very often have great charm. I have met those kinds of people, and I certainly have Mr. Reed in that category. I think he would have always initially done well with people. Even as a kid he would have done quite well. People would have got his jokes and thought he was good company. And then as the days and weeks progressed, they would start to think, I just can’t get a handle on this guy. And they gradually shy away, making him even angrier and more disappointed deep down. That was my cod psychology.” (Grant, Vogue)