As a long-time admirer of Hugh Grant’s captivating performances, I must say his transformation into the chilling villain in A24’s Heretic has left me utterly spellbound. While he’s played scoundrels before, this time it feels like we’ve stumbled upon a dark corner of his repertoire that I hadn’t dared to explore.
In a chilling turn of events, acclaimed actor Hugh Grant will embrace the role of a menacing villain in the forthcoming horror production by A24, titled “Heretic.” While Grant has played devious characters before, such as the troublesome Daniel Cleaver who made life difficult for Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), and the mischievous Fletcher in “The Gentlemen,” this time he will plunge headfirst into the darkness. There’s no room for ambiguity: Grant is set to portray a truly terrifying character, Mr. Reed, and he finds motivation in real-life individuals he knows for his unsettling portrayal. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Grant revealed this insight about his performance.
I’ve encountered individuals in my journey who proved beneficial, yet they were exceptionally intelligent, almost brilliant, and at times deceptively convincing, possessing a certain charm and allure. However, as time passes, one begins to suspect there’s a hidden darkness within them. These individuals often find it challenging to establish genuine connections or maintain meaningful friendships, resorting to pranks, unfunny jokes, model-making, and similar activities instead.
In a subsequent conversation, the award-winning actor, recognized for his exceptional performance as Charles in the iconic “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (Golden Globe winner for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical), went on to express the following sentiments:
Villains often have a deceptive exterior, and this story illustrates that disguise playing a crucial role in its narrative. If Sophie [Thatcher] and Chloe [East], upon my door opening, had immediately witnessed signs of my psychotic and malevolent nature, the plot would have been drastically altered. A gradual unveiling is more effective here, and in this case, as gradual as it can be.
Hugh Grant Relishes Playing the Heretic
Hugh Grant is among a small group of actors who consistently give powerful and impactful performances that leave an impression. Although Grant attributes his career resurgence to the film “Cloud Atlas“, at 64, he continues to impress us. However, if we take Grant at his word, despite the numerous romantic roles he’s played on-screen throughout his career, there’s something delightfully appealing about portraying a villain. And in the film “Heretic“, he gets to play exactly that. Grant further mentioned to EW (below):
As a supporter, I can attest that most actors tend to gravitate towards portraying complex, challenging roles, often referred to as “playing the heavy.” You won’t find many who openly admit to enjoying playing only nice characters. These roles are intriguing yet demanding, teetering on the edge of monotony. They require immense skill and depth to bring them to life convincingly.
Although Grant took on a new role as the antagonist in “Heretic”, his preparation method for the character wasn’t drastically different. In fact, he described it as his usual meticulous and detailed approach, bordering on obsession. During an interview, he stated, “I’ve been going through this process for a while now, which is incredibly detailed, almost to the point of madness. I start months before filming, and I scrutinize the script with great care, asking myself questions like: ‘Why does he say that? Why does he do that?’
Will “Heretic” be remembered among Hugh Grant’s finest performances? Discover the truth about Mr. Reed’s mysterious schemes when “Heretic” premieres in cinemas on November 15. The movie features Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as sisters Barnes and Paxton, respectively. Also, don’t forget to watch the chilling trailer for this A24 production immediately.
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2024-09-19 15:01