Everything’s Interesting

what’s worth thinking about — at the movies, on tv, and more

Member-only story

‘Inheritance’ Review — A disappointing waste of a great conceit

A review of the new spy thriller, in theaters now

Eric Langberg
Everything’s Interesting
4 min readJan 24, 2025

--

Director Neil Burger’s new spy thriller Inheritance has a great conceit. It’s a spy thriller that was shot entirely on an iPhone 13, and it was filmed in various picturesque locations around the world, most of which were stolen. That is to say — they didn’t close off streets, didn’t fill the screen with extras. Instead, Phoebe Dynevor is often the only professional actor on screen, moving through real-world locations filled with real people who are really reacting to what’s happening.

Mostly, that means everyone is staring at her. Really, it’s because they’re all probably trying to figure out why she’s being filmed. For a spy thriller, though, that’s a great way to increase our sense of paranoia and tension — are they just trying to figure out why she’s being filmed, or is that person behind her a character who’s on to the fact that she’s a spy?

It’s unfortunate, then, that the movie is so limp and boring.

Maya (Phoebe Dynevor) steals a pair of sunglasses / via IFC Films

The movie is about Maya (Dynevor), a young woman who’s been caring for her cancer-stricken mother. As the…

--

--

Everything’s Interesting
Everything’s Interesting

Published in Everything’s Interesting

what’s worth thinking about — at the movies, on tv, and more

Eric Langberg
Eric Langberg

Written by Eric Langberg

Interests: bad horror movies, queering mainstream films, Classic Hollywood.

Responses (3)