Heretic – "Religion, what a farce"

Two young Mormon missionaries visit Mr. Reed to try to convert him. This old man turns out to be far more frightening than he seems.

When starting the movie, we expected a standard horror film, not a grand discourse revealing what could be the most colossal and deadly deception based on a very convincing argument rooted in popular culture: monotheistic religions. The initial conversation brims with unsettling discomforts, such as the question, "What do you think about polygamy?"—especially in the age of #MeToo paranoia. The character portrayed by Hugh Grant, masterfully cast against type, already deserves a place in the pantheon of great antagonists. In short, this is a verbose work centered on a rhetorical and theological battle.

Red One – "What exactly fuels the reindeer?"

After Santa Claus is kidnapped, his chief of security, Callum, must rescue him.

First of all, the idea of creating a Santa Claus who is a bodybuilder and weightlifter instead of a jolly, plump old man left me unimpressed. Similarly, turning what could have been a simple TV movie into an expensive blockbuster following the Marvel method failed to convince me. For instance, there’s a polar bear whose sole purpose seems to be inflating the CGI budget. The same goes for the reindeer, which, considering their limited role on-screen, didn’t need to be so gargantuan. The overly serious tone, despite a few rare, cringe-worthy jokes, didn’t appeal to me either. The shallow, faux-deep philosophical musings presented as sagacious aphorisms were profoundly disappointing. The antagonist’s paradoxical desire to punish naughty people ultimately repelled me. And finally, Dwayne Johnson wanders through the film like an emotionless monolith.

Mary – "I was chosen to bring a gift to the world"

A depiction of Mary’s life, from the announcement of her birth by an angel to Anne, to the birth of her own son, Christ.

The screenplay turns a thrilling biblical story into an astonishingly dull one. It never manages to be captivating. Furthermore, the New Testament is quite vague and restrained regarding this character, leading the film to invent flimsy events, such as an absurd encounter between the heroine and King Herod. Regarding the cast, the actress playing the young virgin has excessively plump lips, making her unconvincing in the role. Anthony Hopkins manages only to appear ridiculous, not helped by equally absurd dialogue.