How are Latter-day Saint missionaries portrayed in Heretic?

In Heretic, Latter-day Saint missionaries are portrayed with some accurate elements, like their costume design, which closely mirrors the attire worn by actual missionaries. However, the movie also features conversations that are inaccurate and do not align with the real-life conduct of missionaries. These portrayals misrepresent the values and behavior of missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including inappropriate or irrelevant commentary that contrasts with the respectful and focused nature of actual missionary work. While the film captures certain aspects of missionary life, it falls short in its depiction of their conversations and overall portrayal of their beliefs.

The Portrayal of Mormon Missionaries in Heretic

The two actresses who play the sister missionaries, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, are both former members of the church. Their familiarity with the church lends credence to their performance and may resonate with Latter-day Saint viewers. Thatcher admitted to “wanting the role so badly” that she leveraged her Mormon upbringing to land the part. Because of their backgrounds, they wanted to depict Latter-day Saints accurately and make them feel grounded in reality. Their characters evoke a recognizably Mormon vibe and affect that often feels believable. Unfortunately, this believability begins to unravel when the missionaries engage in obscene talk about the size of men’s genitalia, and watching pornography. The missionaries are also at times portrayed as quaint, naïve, and overeager. 

Mormon Missionary Guidelines 

At a crucial moment in Heretic, the sisters arrive at Mr. Reed’s doorstep and ask if a woman is present to ensure they can enter his home and teach, which accurately reflects missionary guidelines. According to the Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ handbook, missionaries are instructed to always ensure another adult of the same gender is present when interacting with individuals of the opposite gender. Additionally, later in the film, a single male missionary, Elder Kennedy, appears alone at Mr. Reed’s door, violating another missionary guideline that requires companionships to stay together at all times.

Costume Design