Inheritance

INHERITANCE channels classic 70s horror films like THE SHINING but is imbued with contemporary touches that firmly ground it in the here and now. Unlike the recent spate of teen slasher flicks, INHERITANCE draws you in with mystery and suspense and a plot that keeps you guessing right up until the end. Gorgeous cinematography and production design help to set and maintain an atmosphere that is both eerie and realistic. Nice understated performances by the leads help INHERITANCE transcend the expected conventions of the genre. Overall, a fresh, interesting take on the classic ghost story.

A tight little thriller that plays more on the intellect than the gut, although there were definitely a couple of scenes that had me quite tense. Nelson and Taylor give fine performances, and the camera work and pacing keep your interest throughout. The avoidance of clichéd "jump scenes", and the fact that most of this suspense/thriller flick is shot in daylight provides a pleasant contrast to the now mundane teen slasher/startlers, and adds increased drama to the scenes that are set at night or in darkened surroundings. The ending is also quite satisfying, allowing you to think for yourself and decide which of several possible explanations for the events in the movie is the solution. Thumbs up!

This movie is not intelligent, and there is nothing contemporary about it. It is not Hitchcock-like, and does not resemble the Shining in any way whatsoever. It is shot with a hand-held camera, and resembles a home video. Don't get excited, though, and think "Ah, like Blair Witch!" It's not like Blair Witch either. It truly does look like it was shot at someone's house on bored Sunday afternoon. I kept waiting for the camera to pull back and show the protagonists watching videos they had made, but it was not to be. The acting is appalling, to say the least. Avoid at all costs, and reprimand your video store owner for displaying it on the shelf. It is unbelievable that anyone would actually give this a 10.

Brilliantly chilling. Beautifully shot. Artfully subtle. INHERITANCE is a great film. I've seen about a dozen indy/low budget films at festivals over the past five years and I don't like indy films in general, but this is one of two I have been surprised by and liked. Once it gets moving it's a very enjoyable cinematic ride. The story is great and well told. The film is sort of a noirish mystery/ghost story with a really great psychological undercurrent. A number of scenes had me practically vibrating in my seat with chills. The gorgeous palette and sets really added to the story as does a wonderful soundtrack with a couple of original songs by Robyn Hitchcock. I bet Twilight Zone and Buffy fans will really like it.

Mrs. Lillian Baker (Nelson) is a dynamic, but elderly woman who has to resort to having a caretaker, a young woman named Abby (Taylor), to help her get around. It seems clear that the bitter woman is close to death but seems to have something up her sleeve. After passing away, Abby soon discovers that the spirit of Mrs. Baker has taken up residence in her own body. The two souls battle for the one body in this mildly effective independent film. Director and co-writer Kris Kristensen does not set out to make a shock and gore show, but instead uses subtle tension and psychological scares to fill his movie. The performances are good, especially from Marjorie Nelson as Mrs. Baker. We really feel her frustration at being old and the flashes of menace do supply some chills. Fans of subtle character driven horror will enjoy this with a fun twist at the end. If you are looking for jumps, shocks or searing horror, then look elsewhere.