A24 doesn’t usually miss in my opinion, so finding out they made this film, I was quick to check it out. The small cast focuses primarily on Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant, and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), young missionaries sent to speak with him about the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Also known as Mormonism, it’s a church that’s often been under scrutiny, as well as popularized by the Book of Mormon musical and other television comedies in their sketches.
“How has God shown you that the church is true?”
Even before the girls arrive at his door, we see them tested. People are blowing off their conversations. A group of teen girls takes the moment to harass poor Sister Paxton. You can see their faith tested even by their conversation over pornography. But they are dedicated to their cause, hiking bikes up a rather large hill, and going about the city, finding people to talk to. This leads them directly to Mr. Reed’s door, as he has requested visitors specifically to come talk about the Church.
As soon as they are inside, little things begin to make no sense. Mr. Reed mentions metal in the walls, a mysterious wife who will not emerge, and the lingering scent of pie revealed to be a candle. Something sinister is brewing, but the girls are too polite. Lying won’t save them. But a test of faith might. Mr. Reed reveals himself to be quite a student of religion and claims he’s found the one true God. Just like Monopoly, the game, or Creep by Radiohead, everything in life is an iteration of the same thing. So too follows religion. All the way to Star Wars Episode I, though I felt that wasn’t properly explained for my taste. If you’re going to mention Jar-Jar Binks, there needs to be more philosophical depth, please.
“If revelation by God is filtered through man and man is flawed and man sins and man lies, then how do we know any of it’s true?”
He’s testing them and their faith. Pick a door. Follow it down. But the reality is that the entire game is being manipulated. He claims to have a true prophet in their midst. But how real is it? What’s real and what’s manipulation? The prophet even says, “This is not real.” The girls plan their counterattack, but it goes horribly wrong. Suddenly, Mr. Reed is claiming everything is a simulation, can’t you see it? The way fire reacts…I don’t know, seems like a bunch of crap to me. I love the idea of us all being in The Matrix like Neo, but I’m not quite sure this sticks.
Sister Paxton seemed more naive than Sister Barnes in the beginning, but here she starts unraveling his bullshit. She’s observant too. And the only way out is through. Down into his dark labyrinth, she sees the full extent of his depravity and twisted darkness. The one true God is in control. But she can’t be controlled. Though I question the medicine and physics of his being able to survive a stabbing that gets the girls to break away, he gives as good as he takes. Paxton is left praying, yet saved by another miracle. Perhaps a real one this time? She studies his labyrinth and finds the way out, yet we’re left to wonder, did she really escape, or is it possibly another near-death experience?
As someone with a complex and complicated relationship with religion, I absolutely loved this film. So many of these thoughts and questions were things I once considered. There are a lot of similarities between religions and concurrent thoughts. How do you separate from that and call yourself the one true religion? And at the same time, I do believe in faith. I believe in the greater good and morality, particularly because morality can and does easily exist without religion. I’m living proof you can be a morally good person without believing in a man in the sky watching over you. Did a lot of that come from being raised in the church? Sure. But I also think it’s not necessary because I fell in love with a good man who wasn’t raised anywhere near any faith. At the end of the day, who you choose to be matters, whether you believe a man in the clouds is judging you or not.
“How has God shown you that the church is true?”
He hasn’t. But people have shown me time and time again that goodness and morality are true because of the choices they make every day. And if there is anywhere I can put my faith, I place it in the people who are just trying to make the world a better place for everyone. And isn’t that something we should all aspire to be? Hey, feel free to watch the movie on HBO or Max and come back to agree or not, about the thoughts I place here.
