'Heretic' elicits chills by attacking manipulators

When Scott Beck and Bryan Woods wrote and directed "Heretic," they really went all-in on combining "Saw" with comparative theology.

This is not a film for all audiences, even more than most horror movies. While some families might share an appreciation for psychological thrillers, the title of "Heretic" should be your first clue that it devotes a significant amount of screentime to debating religion.

Given the number of impending holiday dinners already haunted by the prospect of post-election political discussions among distant relatives, I can certainly understand wanting to avoid a film so...