David at the Movies: Hugh Grant in a dark and dismal Torture Porn horror

 HERETIC

Two young female Mormon missionaries call at the house of Mr Reed (Hugh Grant) down a country lane to peddle their brand of faith and soon wish they hadn’t. Apart from challenging their beliefs Mr Reed invites them down to his cellar where something nasty lurks.

The casting of Hugh Grant and the religious debating are clearly intended to give Heretic some extra “gravitas”, which works in the Upstairs chapter of the story, but Downstairs is a dark and dismal place where the movie and Mr Reed descend into Torture Porn, where so many modern horror movies take us. 

Perhaps Grant is tired of playing charm and smarm or likeably roguish, but I found myself recalling some of the awful films Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made in their twilight years; obviously I exclude their joint appearance in the gloriously camp Baby Jane classic. Heretic is not destined to become a camp classic. Casting Grant elevates Mr Reed, but I’m not sure that playing Reed elevates Mr Grant.

What I'm reading: Romance, food and fashion in Venice: what could be better?

 Kate Zarelli: COINCIDENTALLY IN VENICE

Watching a piazza in Venice on a webcam helps London office-worker Ashley through the Covid lockdowns and a love affair that turns sour. Made redundant in 2022 she and her best friend Juliet go to Venice and seek out the square. Juliet quickly finds a dishy Italian waiter, but romance for Ashley takes the unlikely form of an Irish accountant from her old firm, beginning a new career as an art restorer.

Ashley and Juliet both start totally different lives in Venice. The wife of Ashley’s ex-boss, now launching herself as an art patron, threatens to put a spanner in the works, but …. No spoilers from this reviewer!

Kate Zarelli also writes as Katie Hutton, rich and intense historical fiction set in the English Midlands. In her Derbyshire novels I have detected a hint of Thomas Hardy. In her contemporary novels I hear sizzling echoes of Carrie Bradshaw and Bridget Jones. Ms Zarelli  brings people and places gloriously to life and light. Coincidentally in Venice has everything its magical setting deserves: romance (with titillating sex scenes) laced with a hint of danger. For food lovers there are some delicious meals, and for fashion-lovers some frocks to die for!