Film Exposure

Fantastic Fest, taking place just a few weeks before the spooky season, always premieres a few Halloween-themed horror movies, and this year’s THE HERETIKS proves once more that unflinching sadism toward your characters and generous gore can get you a long, long way. The film tells the story of Ada, a disaffected teenage girl who must team up with a renegade witch on Halloween night to protect her little sister from a murderous coven hellbent on sacrificing her in an apocalyptic ritual. Sounds like a familiar teen horror flick from the 90s? That’s probably on purpose.

The film initially sets up a Disney-like sunny aesthetic that should ensnare fans of Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown, but give pause to those expecting something slightly darker… that is, until the second half, when director Gregg Bishop indulges in what he really seems to be infatuated with: merciless character suffering, and cool practical effects and gore. Some of the deaths in last half hour go well beyond what would be expected of the film given its first 30 minutes.

The aforementioned first act plays out without many surprises: an American suburban neighbourhood, Halloween night, a broken familial bond that needs mending… and witches, of course. The film doesn’t explicitly say anything about when the story is taking place, and the use of smartphones probably points to modern times, but the sets and the mood have a resolutely old-school, 90s feel to them. It can be a difficult balance to strike, as offering something too familiar to the audience might lead some viewers to reject an approach they might think is too fan-sercicy or nostalgia-imbued, but Bishop fortunately peppers a few hints of what is to come in its narrative.

The Heretiks could be described as a horror siege thriller that chooses to spend most of its runtime in a single location – probably for budgetary reasons – but manages to keep things moving with occasional hints of the director’s affinity with action cinema (I don’t think I’d ever seen witches throwing punches like this before). The fight mechanics involve quick moves and quicker parries, but also rely on supernatural powers triggered by specific words, which is a stereotypical trope associated with witchcraft in fiction. It does open the door to head-scratching decisions by the characters during some of the action bits, but this is not the kind of film that calls for minute logical analysis.  

These heightened moments keep the audience engaged and wondering if the film will dare truly switch gears… which it absolutely does, fortunately. When the gore kicks in, it does so marvellously, and the degree of violence on display contrasts sharply, at first with the opening act of course, but also with the character dynamics, the sisters’ ties being the emotional core of the story. This contrast makes the film a fun and interesting addition to the genre, even though the actors, the story, and the directing never really rise above competent. Kudos to the team for all of the great-looking practical effects and one particularly painful body horror idea during the finale.

The Heretiks – Seen as part of Fantastic Fest 2026; no European release date yet
Directed by Gregg Bisjop
With Kimberly Epstein, Josie Juliette Wert, Ava Mae Seidensticker