Review: Inheritance

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

PLOT: After the death of her powerful father, a young DA discovers that he kept a very dangerous secret, one that could destroy their family fortune and prominence. 

REVIEW: It’s always exciting to see an actor get the chance to take on something completely different. Simon Pegg did this in the 2018 thriller TERMINAL directed by Vaughn Stein. Apparently the experience was a good one, as both Vaughn and Simon are back working together for their latest project, INHERITANCE. While both features are entertainingly stylish and fairly enthralling, the latest continues to prove what an exciting working relationship the two have. In fact, Simon’s performance here is certainly one of his best. And speaking of terrific work, Lily Collins is exceptional in the leading role. This tale of greed and revenge is a haunting one, and it certainly offers a few satisfying twists and turns along the way.

After the death of wealthy family patriarch Archer Monroe,  his wife and children find themselves involved with a few problematic situations. For his DA daughter Lauren, it’s the constant rumors of illegal activity surrounding her brother William’s political campaign. Things get even more complicated at the reading of the last will and testament, when William is rewarded heartily and Lauren is not. However, she is given something very special by her father’s lawyer. That something… well, it involves a strange man (Simon Pegg) placed in a very curious position. I’d rather not get into details about him, but you’ll get an idea if you watch the trailer.

INHERITANCE starts out strong, and frankly, it remains mostly consistent throughout its just under two hour running time. One of the best sequences in the film is the opening event that leads to the death of Archer. While what happens wouldn’t be terribly dramatic in your average thriller, the way Vaughn creates tension is impressively palatable. There are two very prominent moments in the film that are perfectly captured by a series of quick cuts. Other than that, Vaughn and cinematographer Michael Merriman manage to create a very stylish feature, one that also offers a solid script from Matthew Kennedy. While occasionally the story feels more than a little outlandish, it ultimately works as the many questions are answered.

And then there are the two leads. As mentioned, Simon Pegg is absolutely first-rate here, in a very different type of role for him. As well, Lily Collins is especially strong in the leading role, beautifully carrying the film. Whenever these two are together, this feature is at its best. The reasons for their meeting, and why she’s been left with the burden may feel like a bit of a stretch, yet the two talents help make the most of this cat and mouse game. As well, Connie Nielson is especially good as Lauren’s mother. When she becomes aware of what is going on with her daughter, it’s an incredibly powerful moment.

One of the biggest compliments you can possibly give this is just how unique the story feels. While there’s nothing terribly original about political thrillers, the idea here is quite clever. It also creates a great opportunity for two strong actors to work off of each other. Once we're made aware of the story and how Pegg and Collins become tangled in this strange situation, the series of events begins to take shape. As well, there’s a sharpness in dialogue between them. Even still, there are moments where you question the actions taken which at times seemed a bit unlikely. As well, the subplot of Lauren’s husband and child didn’t work as well as it should have. It generally  felt like an unnecessary distraction.

Vaughn Stein has crafted a unique and generally satisfying thriller with INHERITANCE. Once again working with Simon Pegg, the director has sent this talented actor into places we’ve never seen him go before performance wise. While not nearly as colorful of a character, Collins is fantastic in the leading role. She gives a credible performance as a young woman dealing with the loss of her father and the secrets he reveals to her after his death. This is an engaging feature that leads the viewer down a twisted rabbit hole of family secrets and abuse of power. If you're willing to accept the over the top nature of this story, you're likely to enjoy the dark excursion.

Inheritance

GOOD

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