Close Sidebar close
The Cinematropolis
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Write For Us
    • Contact
  • Essays
    • Essays
    • Lists
    • Film Festivals
    • Reel Insights with Laron Chapman
  • The Cinematic Schematic
  • Interviews
  • Planet Thunder
  • Store

Subscribe & Follow

About

  • Write For Us
  • About Us
  • Onslaught

    Adam Wingard’s ‘Onslaught’ is a Fun and Forgettable 90s Throwback

    September 3, 2026
  • 5 Films From Summer 2026

    Five Movies From Summer 2026 You Probably Missed

    September 2, 2026
  • Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

    ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ Is a Beautiful, Bold Bloody Mess…and That’s a Good Thing

    August 26, 2026
  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day

    The ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Deep Dive and the State of the MCU

    August 12, 2026
  • Moana

    ‘Moana’ Is an Unnecessary and Unimaginative Derivative Cash Grab

    August 10, 2026
  • A Walk On The (Olivia) Wilde Side of Indie Cinema

    July 30, 2026
  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day Has Its Priorities Right…Until It Doesn’t

    July 29, 2026
  • The Odyssey

    ‘The Odyssey’ Review: Is Christopher Nolan’s Epic Worth the Hype?

    July 22, 2026
  • The Odyssey

    ‘The Odyssey’ Is an Epic Cinematic Masterclass

    July 15, 2026
  • Summer 2026 Horror

    ‘Evil Dead Burn’ Joins Triumphantly Traumatizing 2026 Summer Horror Lineup

    July 15, 2026

Brought to you by Planet Thunder Productions

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Write For Us
    • Contact
  • Essays
    • Essays
    • Lists
    • Film Festivals
    • Reel Insights with Laron Chapman
  • The Cinematic Schematic
  • Interviews
  • Planet Thunder
  • Store
The Cinematropolis
The Cinematropolis
    Featured The Cinematic Schematic

    ‘Heretic’ Asks Big Questions About Religion Through Chilling Thrills – The Cinematic Schematic

    November 20, 2024
    https://media.blubrry.com/thecinematicschematic/www.thecinematropolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/24-042-Heretic-Review_Final_V2.mp3

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download

    Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

    What do chain fast food restaurants, board games, and world religions have in common? In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we dig into that question in our review of the recent religion-powered horror starring Hugh Grant, Heretic.

    Does the film bring thoughtful thrills, or is it just a cheap parlor trick that uses religion as a gimmick? Tune in to find out.


    Meet The Guests

    Returning from deadCenter, Kevin Ely and U.S. Air Force Chaplain Trevor Winfrey join the show to discuss these weighty topics of religion and belief and have healthy conversations about tough topics without threatening blueberry pie. But not before they talk with hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman about their favorite fast food selections.

    Heretic
    Left to Right: Trevor Winfrey, Kevin Ely, Laron Chapman, and Caleb Masters

    Ice-Breaker Question

    Time Stamps: 5:50

    You are locked in a snowy cabin in a debate with a fictional screen character.

    Two-part question–

    1. What fictional screen character would you most prefer to be stuck talking to?
    2. What fictional screen character would you least prefer to be stuck talking to?

    Spoiler-Free Review

    Time Stamps: 13:27

    In our spoiler-free review, we discuss:

    • Overall thoughts
    • Lead performances from Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, Sophie Thatcher as Sister Barnes, Chloe East as Sister Paxton
    • How effectively the film explores horror through the lens of faith
    • Letter grade verdicts
    • Alternate media recommendations

    Spoiler-Filled Analysis

    Time Stamps: 40:03

    Things get extra deep in the spoiler-focused conversation when things cross into theological and philosophical. In this spoilers conversation, we talk about:

    • How the film uses existential and spiritual anxiety to create cerebral chills over cheap shocks
    • Heretic‘s perspective on toxic atheism vs unexamined faith

    Special Guests


    Kevin Ely

    Senior Features Programmer at deadCenter

    Follow Kevin on Instagram @KevinEly


    Profile photo of Trevor Winfrey, MDiv., BCC

    Trevor Winfrey

    US Air Force Chaplain, Captain


    About Heretic


    According to IMDB, Heretic is described as:

    Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.


    Follow The Cinematic Schematic Podcast

    Hear all this and more of our past and future episodes by subscribing to The Cinematic Schematic on your preferred podcast app and leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts!

    Email Us: thecinematropolis@gmail.com

    Follow The Cinematic Schematic on Spotify

    Like The Cinematropolis on Facebook

    Follow The Cinematropolis on Twitter @thecinematrop



    HereticHugh GrantKevin ElyThe Cinematic SchematicTrevor Winfrey
    Caleb Masters
    Caleb Masters is a film critic, podcast host, and producer with more than fourteen years of experience in media and film criticism, fueled by a lifelong love of pop culture and a passion for media production. As editor-in-chief of The Cinematropolis, he oversees the site’s editorial direction while hosting and producing the podcast The Cinematic Schematic, where he reviews new releases, interviews filmmakers, and explores other prominent voices in entertainment alongside co-host Laron Chapman. He previously served as president of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) and currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three dogs. Follow him on Letterboxd or Instagram @CMastersTalk
    • ‘Speak No Evil’ is No Ordinary American Remake

    • ‘Conclave’ Is a Deceptively Pulpy Costume Drama

    You Might Also Like

    Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

    Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Bonus Mini-Review

    February 13, 2026
    Wake Up Dead Man

    Bonus Mini-Review: Wake Up Dead Man – The Cinematic Schematic

    November 26, 2025
    inception

    Built in Dreams: The Inception 10th Anniversary Special – The Cinematic Schematic

    July 16, 2020

    No Comments

Brought to You By

Planet Thunder Productions

2026 - All Rights Reserved.