Inheritance Review

 

In the film "Inheritance," audiences embark on a worldwide journey with Maya (Dynevor), a young American grappling with the recent death of her mother, whom she had cared for in her final years. This profound loss drives Maya to find a means to express her grief. Tensions escalate when her estranged father, Sam (Rhys Ifans), unexpectedly shows up at the funeral, seemingly harboring hidden intentions. This encounter leads Maya to join him on an overseas trip, but their father-daughter dynamic swiftly evolves into a dangerous escapade filled with espionage, as Sam's true identity as a spy is revealed. Following Sam's abduction, Maya finds herself in peril and must undertake a quest for answers across Egypt, India, and South Korea.

While the film adheres to a familiar narrative structure typical of spy action thrillers—replete with conspiracies, betrayals, and life-saving artifacts—the true originality emerges from Neil Burger's direction and writing, along with the cast and crew's commitment to a distinctive filmmaking approach. They employ guerrilla filmmaking techniques to enhance realism and spontaneity in their scenes, resulting in several striking moments, including a particularly frenetic chase sequence in Delhi. However, as the film progresses beyond the midpoint, the various components struggle to coalesce into a coherent and satisfying storyline.

The film opens with impressive location work that captivates the audience from the outset on Afdah. Nevertheless, Jackson Hunt's cinematography becomes increasingly problematic, detracting from the overall viewing experience. The production appears to have relied on small commercial cameras, smartphones, or GoPros—specifically iPhones—leading to suboptimal visual quality that impacts everything from composition and camera movement to the depiction of props and skin tones.