‘Inheritance’ Review : Pop Culture Leftovers

‘Inheritance’ Review

January 24, 2025 12:16 pm |

Inheritance moves at a breakneck pace, capturing a world of paranoia at literal face value, as a kidnapping gone sideways causes our protagonist to evade capture by the authorities to complete her quest at hand.

Phoebe Dynevor’s Maya delivers quite the close-up with a unique cinematography that quite literally places the camera in her personal space at all times. Dynevor is absolutely tremendous in showcasing her authentic anguish tendencies and mistrust in a world she is suddenly thrown into with no guidance. The camera focuses on her paranoia not only with her facial expressions, but with the truly hypnotic pull the equipment garners getting looks from all directions, appearing to be eyeing her and not the behind the scenes crew.

Rhys Ifans is really poignant in his overall portrayal of Maya’s estranged father caught up with some of the worst kinds of people, teetering between reconnection with his daughter and his own self interests.

The filmmaking style provides a high intensity to Maya’s mission to save her father, especially a high speed chase on a motorcycle provides plenty of thrills. The factor that makes Inheritance such an immersive experience is just how personal everything feels from the father/daughter bonding to the kidnapping to the discovery of unfathomable secrets.

Neil Burger is always offering something different in his filmmaking and storytelling, Inheritance is no different and while the story may be a bit straight forward, it’s in Burger’s direction that the themes remain incredibly tense from beginning to end. Inheritance can just as easily be frustrating as it is captivating with gripping moments that halt in a lackluster climax. Maya’s mission may come to a close, but the result may not be what audiences intend to see play out. Nonetheless, it’s an experience worth the possible disagreement in the way it concludes.

Simultaneously Published on Cinefied.com