Get ready for a pulse-pounding dive into moral darkness with Heresy, the new short film from New Zealand filmmaker Veekrant Raj. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Heresy delivers the intensity and emotional punch of a full-length thriller, driven by razor-sharp cinematography, raw performances, and a story that refuses to let go.
Raj, following up his acclaimed 2023 debut Tender Lies, ventures boldly from horror into the volatile terrain of moral thrillers. This time, he poses an unsettling question: what happens when a few small missteps spiral into life-altering disasters?
The film follows Huey and Vince, two restless friends scraping by on petty thefts in their sleepy hometown. But when a late-night score goes violently wrong, they’re hurled into the clutches of the local underworld—a place where every choice tightens the noose around them. As their situation worsens, paranoia blooms, loyalties are tested, and the thin ground beneath them begins to crack.
Visually, Heresy is a knockout. The film showcases a vivid mix of sharp images, bold color palettes, and rapid, breath-snatching cuts. Sound and cinematography work in eerie harmony, transforming deserted streets and narrow alleys into claustrophobic traps. Raj cites Ari Aster, the Safdie Brothers, and Stanley Kubrick as major inspirations—and it shows. Fans will recognize Aster’s slow-burning dread, the Safdies’ chaotic energy, and Kubrick’s uncanny visual precision. Yet Heresy stands firmly on its own, driven by Raj’s distinctive voice and a fierce, personal take on guilt, fate, and the illusion of choice.
Taut, thought-provoking, and unrelenting, Heresy doesn’t just tell a story—it forces you to live inside it. And when the credits roll, the questions will linger: How much control do we really have? When does a mistake become a sin? And how far can you fall before there’s no way back?
Heresy has premiered online and at selected cinemas. With its compact runtime and ferocious energy, it’s a must-watch for fans of high-stakes suspense who crave a film that leaves them haunted—and hungry for answers.
