inheritance

A darkly brooding account of an adopted son’s unfortunate connection to his biological father’s horrifying past. Ryan (Chase Joilet) receives the deed to a 2.5 million dollar estate in the final will and testament from a father he always thought dead. When Ryan decides to inspect and investigate his newly acquired property, he takes the trip to the luxurious house with his 10 week pregnant fiance Isi (Sara Montez). On the first night Ryan experiences a strange and startling incident that commences his spiraling descent into insanity.

The film pace for “Inheritance” is eerily slow, which is somewhat detrimental to the engaging aspects of the plot. Creeping along however the backstory is exposed in day dreams, night terrors and/ or possibly even, mental hallucinations. Ryan’s father, Frank Morse (Tim Abell) is said to have died in a surfing accident and his knowledge of this feeds into the illusions he begins to suffer from. Going back and forth through this timeline the audience is led to believe a sinister history that belongs to his ancestral family tree. A few minor characters reveal information about Frank to Ryan that fills in a couple gaps but nothing more and nothing major. Beyond these trivial traits Ryan’s seemingly senile neighbor, Bonnie (Krisha Fairchild) explains his father’s disturbing family past. The awful truth is evil and at least it appears that Ryan gives the horrendous tale a small semblance of credence.

Chase Joilet’s performance is either dead on to how the script was written or a monotone performance with spikes of anger to express his growing disturbance from being within the home. Deciphering between the two is only exacerbated by the cloudiness of the plot which is obstructing the reasoning for his character’s slip into trance like mania, paranoia and rage. If it was done so to purposefully hinder the finale’s unveiling, then bravo, but if it was unintentionally accomplished then it simple undermines the momentum of the character arc for Ryan. What is apparent is that all the problems for Ryan and Isi originate with the Morse family connection and the history of the home. But exactly by who it is that has done this to his family is never really touched upon other than a perceived curse, maybe. Ryan spends a large portion of the film in a hypnotized state of mind and upsetting his fiance for a sentiment he cannot command himself to express. Isi as a character would have been better maneuvered into an ally role for Chase to rely on and work with instead of butting heads with on menial matters.

The distraught and bleak musical tracks were splendidly created by Los Angeles based band “Mini Mansions.” While it was Tyler Savage that wrote and directed, Drew Daniels gave tremendous support helming the cinematography for the film. “Inheritance” is bewitchingly shot in a cryptic manner that brings out the instinctually suspenseful thrill of fearing the unknown. The reluctance to thoroughly delve into the actual events that cause Ryan’s derangement fatally wound the film but like any good psychological nightmare, it leaves you with something to ponder in your waking hours.

Saw the 02th June