The inner workings of the 1 percent have become a captivating subject for writers and directors to explore, especially recently. Whether it be Rian Johnson's incredibly successful murder mystery Knives Out from last year or HBO's award-winning series Succession, there's something intriguing about the complex interactions and lives of these wealthy individuals. And considering the success of these productions, it's clear audiences are interested in these stories as well. Director Vaughn Stein's (Terminal) latest film takes this narrative route, exploring how one family's legacy can often contain more skeletons than riches in its closet. But despite great performances from Lily Collins and Simon Pegg, Inheritance is weighed down by heavy exposition and its overly ambitious story.
Collins leads this film as Lauren Monroe, the strong-willed daughter of a wealthy political figure named Archer Monroe (Patrick Warburton). One day, in the middle of a press conference, she learns that her father has mysteriously (and quite abruptly) passed away. This news immediately sends the media into a circus and leaves Lauren buzzing with an abundance of questions as to what happened. After the funeral, the reading of her father's will only adds to her ever-growing list of questions. Not only has her brother (played by a very uncharismatic Chace Crawford) been left an inheritance that's twenty times her own, but a mysterious flash drive has also been left for her by her father.
Unfortunately for Lauren, the contents of this flash drive contain some unbelievable secrets that are now her responsibility to keep. A video left behind by her father details the location of a secret underground bunker, which is conveniently (more unsettlingly) placed near her childhood fort. That's not all, though. Inside the bunker is a creepy stranger (played by Simon Pegg) who's been imprisoned there for years by her father. As if this discovery wasn't shocking enough, the stranger also knows plenty of secrets about her family that could completely unravel them if learned by the public, and he's certainly not willing to go down without a fight. Armed with a newfound determination to uncover the truth, Lauren learns that what her father left behind for her holds far greater weight than money or belongings ever could.
Inheritance has bold ideas and lays the groundwork for them with gusto right from the get-go. However, it doesn't take long before its story feels as if it's going to crumble under the weight of its own ambitions. It jumps into its main mystery fairly quickly, with Lauren discovering the bunker at the beginning of the film's first half, but struggles to maintain interest as it begins peeling back more layers. Thankfully, both Collins and Pegg bring enough enthusiasm and energy to their respective roles to heighten intrigue in the story, even when it becomes entangled in its own mystery.
The script, written by Matthew Kennedy, relies too heavily on exposition, making the movie feel much longer than it actually is. It's evident that he was aiming for a Succession-esque storyline, but Inheritance never quite hits the same snappy, thrilling high notes as HBO's successful series, often leaning more into the absurd and unrealistic. However, Pegg's interactions with Collins help elevate the moments of heavy, convoluted dialogue and make them more interesting to watch unfold. Pegg, in particular, is fun to watch as a manipulative, and very animated, personality with more bubbling beneath the surface than meets the eye. Collins similarly fits into Lauren's complicated internal mold like a glove, keeping the film somewhat emotionally grounded even as it stretches to ridiculous new heights.
There aren't many moments in Inheritance that allow it to stand out from productions similar to it as something new and exciting. All-too-often, it gets caught up in the thrill of its own storyline - so much so that, by the end, its big reveals feel lackluster, serving as more of a rushed sprint to the finish line rather than taking the time to make sure each beat hits just right. Although the script starts out on an interesting high note, it slowly descends into messy territory as the characters attempt to tie up multiple loose ends all at once. In the end, Pegg and Collins are the only two aspects of Inheritance that are trying to keep it afloat. Unfortunately, it's just not enough to stop this cinematic ship from sinking.
Inheritance is now available on demand and digitally. It's 111 minutes long and Not Rated.