The Nerdery Movie Night #255: Heretic and Chili Corn

Hugh Grant is going to turn 65 this year. What is time? Oh. We both liked the movie.

Chili Corn

Dave: Why did this otherwise spooky locked room movie have to become a Ree Drummond-esque Live Laugh Love film in the last 5 minutes? Until then, the creepiness factor was off the charts. Hugh Grant was masterfully creepy and banal and Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East were brilliant as the missionaries trapped in Grant’s house. All of the leads had amazing physical subtlety: the gestures, the facial tics were entrancing. But the last few minutes veered into Hallmark movie territory: the landscape covered in snow and the near-magical appearance of the butterfly almost ruined the previous hour and a half for me. Still, the acting and the creepy set design ultimately won out. (️️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).

When Joe told me this was called “chili corn,” I was a tad disappointed. There was very little chili, but the earthy pepitas and peanuts deliciously balanced out the generous amount of dried chili, meaning that we inhaled the bulk of this recipe before anything remotely terrifying happened in the movie. Still, there was a mealiness that I couldn’t forgive in the mix of pepitas and peanuts that wasn’t offset by the other ingredients (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)

Joe: Heretic is the kind of thriller that works for 75% of the time, but fumbles in its final act. From the jump, I experienced a lingering uneasiness - largely credited to the phenomenal performances of the three principal leads, each of whom sinks themselves entirely into their respective roles. It's Hugh Grant, though, that turns in the Master's class. Oscillating between a philosophical snake oil salesman and a completely unhinged psychopath, he is the central force of the film and I was riveted by him. Unfortunately, the compelling religious discourse that creates the tension in the first couple acts dissolves into tropes that ultimately neuter the theme of the film. Still, it's a lot of fun to watch if you can forgive the final 10 or 15 minutes. (⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)

We are damn well near finished with almost every Popcorn Board recipe (if we exclude the idiotic recipes, like using popcorn as a soup topper). Though curiously titled (as it absolutely does not come across as remotely chili-esque, this concoction is delicious. It's spicy and buttery, and because of the peanuts and pepitas, it's quite filling. Next time - and there will be a next time - I'd like to heighten the heat a little bit more and maybe let the peanuts baste in the butter for longer. Still. Delicious. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)

Popcorn from: The Popcorn Board

Heretic on IMDb.