Nearly three years after we heard that filming had begun on director Paul Hyett's supernatural horror movie HERETIKS, a trailer has finally arrived online to offer a preview of the finished product – and it looks like Hyett was able to craft something that might be quite creepy.
Starring Hannah Arterton, Michael Ironside, Rosie Day, and HELLRAISER's Clare Higgins, HERETIKS was written by Hyett and Conal Plamer, based on a story by Gregory Blair. The film is set in the early 17th century, when
innocent young Persephone is falsely accused and put on trial for her life. Her fate seems sealed except for the timely intervention of the mysterious Reverend Mother offering her not just sanctuary, but hope. For the Reverend Mother is the self-appointed leader of a small religious retreat, a secluded Priory, where her fellow Sisters devote their lives to the Lord and seek atonement for their pasts. But upon arrival, Persephone is plagued with terrifying visions and soon realizes that it’s not salvation that awaits but a battle for her very soul itself.
HERETIKS was originally expected to receive a 2016 release. I'm not sure what the hold-up was, or why distributors are missing out on the opportunity to get this out on home video around the same time as the theatrical release of THE NUN. But it is known that HERETIKS is set to have its world premiere at the FrightFest film festival, which will be held in London from August 23rd through the 27th. Hopefully it will be well received there, as this screening has been a long time coming.