Inheritance (2025)

“Inheritance” (2025): A High-Stakes Espionage Drama Shot with a Guerrilla Touch

In the modern landscape of spy thrillers, Inheritance (2025), directed by Neil Burger, offers a breath of fresh air by opting for a uniquely raw, handheld style. Shot entirely on an iPhone, the film steers away from the slick, polished visuals typical of high-budget espionage narratives, favoring instead a more intimate and spontaneous approach. For those who found the jittery camera work of films like the Bourne series unsettling, this unconventional style might prove a challenge. However, while it offers moments of visual interest, Inheritance ultimately struggles with pacing, character depth, and predictable twists that could have otherwise elevated its material.

Plot Overview: A Family’s Reunion Gone Awry

The film centers around Maya (Phoebe Dynevor), a young woman struggling with the recent death of her mother, for whom she had been the primary caregiver. Still reeling from her loss, Maya finds herself confronting another shock at the funeral: her estranged father, Sam (Rhys Ifans), has unexpectedly shown up after years of absence. His presence stirs up old feelings, but also presents an unexpected opportunity. Sam offers Maya a lucrative job in Cairo, working for his real estate business. The catch? Maya has barely any relationship with him and is still unsure of his true motives. Yet, given her financial struggles and her desire for a connection with her father, she reluctantly agrees.

What follows is a series of increasingly bizarre events that unearth Sam’s past involvement in international espionage. It quickly becomes clear that Sam is not just a businessman, but a man running from a shady history that might involve high-stakes international intrigue. After Sam is mysteriously kidnapped, Maya is thrust into a perilous race across continents—from Cairo to India to Seoul—to recover vital information hidden in a safe deposit box, all while trying to avoid both the dangerous captors and Interpol agents hot on her trail.

A Visual Style That Reflects Maya’s Emotional Turmoil

Burger’s decision to shoot the film on an iPhone was an ambitious one, aiming to convey the raw, emotional upheaval Maya experiences as her world unravels. In its early stages, this shaky, handheld style works well, capturing Maya’s erratic state of mind as she struggles with grief and confusion. The visual approach also lends a sense of urgency to the action sequences, such as a thrilling motorcycle chase through narrow alleys that feels immediate and visceral.

However, as the film progresses, the novelty of the guerilla filmmaking style begins to wear thin. What initially felt like an innovative method to mirror the protagonist’s emotional chaos gradually starts to detract from the film’s ability to immerse the viewer. Instead of amplifying the tension, the camera work sometimes becomes a distraction, prompting the audience to question the logistics of shooting in such a manner rather than focusing on the unfolding drama.

A Script That Misses the Mark

The script, co-written by Burger and renowned spy novelist Olen Steinhauer, presents a familiar espionage narrative, with a series of twists and turns that are easy to predict. The lack of surprising revelations or genuine tension leaves the audience feeling a few steps ahead of Maya at every turn. While there’s an attempt to create suspense and paranoia, Inheritance never quite achieves the level of intrigue that the genre demands. The narrative’s reliance on well-worn tropes makes the overall experience feel like a first draft that never quite gelled. Instead of leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, the film evokes a sense of déjà vu, as if we’ve seen all this before—only with a less polished execution.

While the story’s primary focus is on Maya’s journey, it often feels like she is a passive character caught up in forces beyond her control. Despite this, Phoebe Dynevor’s performance as Maya is undeniably strong. Known for her breakout role in Bridgerton, Dynevor infuses the character with a raw vulnerability that helps elevate the film, even if the script doesn’t allow her to fully shine. The emotional weight of her journey, particularly her strained relationship with her father, is conveyed effectively, and she brings a much-needed depth to a story that otherwise feels flat.

Rhys Ifans, as Sam, plays his role with subtlety. His performance is understated, especially considering the character’s manipulative nature. As the father who has long been absent from Maya’s life, his slow unraveling reveals a man who has become a shell of his former self, desperately clinging to the façade of paternal affection while hiding darker secrets. Ifans’ quiet portrayal adds layers to a character who could have otherwise been nothing more than a two-dimensional plot device.

The Emotional Core: A Family’s Tragic Revelation

Despite the film’s reliance on action and espionage tropes, the heart of Inheritance lies in the strained, ultimately tragic relationship between Maya and her father. The suspense of the international chase pales in comparison to the quiet, emotionally loaded final scenes between the two. Here, Inheritance finds its emotional depth, as Maya discovers the ugly truth about her father and grapples with the realization that her hopes of reconciliation may have been naive.

In this sense, Inheritance is less about the espionage plot and more about the personal drama at its core. The espionage elements serve as a backdrop for a larger exploration of familial disillusionment, as Maya is forced to confront the painful reality that her father may never be the person she hoped he would be. It’s a quiet, almost heartbreaking conclusion to a film that often feels as though it’s operating on a much bigger scale than it can handle.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

In the end, Inheritance is an ambitious film that falters in several key areas. While it features a gripping performance from Phoebe Dynevor and a unique visual style, the film struggles to maintain the level of suspense and emotional resonance that it aims for. The reliance on familiar spy tropes, combined with a sometimes distracting filmmaking style, keeps the story from reaching its full potential. However, for those looking for an espionage film that takes risks, Inheritance still offers a fresh take on a well-worn genre, even if it ultimately fails to live up to its promise.

Inheritance is currently in theaters, brought to you by IFC Films, and it offers a glimpse into a high-stakes world of international intrigue—but it’s the quiet family drama at the center of the story that leaves the most lasting impact.