"Inheritance" is cocky in its twist, but still offers B-movie thrills

Can a bad turn ruin a good movie? Can a good shoot save a faulty film? Are both possible? This is the kind of thing that comes to mind when you watch a film that relies too heavily on a surprise in Act 3. Today's inheritance certainly thinks you're smarter than you really are, but it's a case where this bad choice doesn't torpedo the whole thing. A frighteningly threatening mood and an outstanding turn by Simon Pegg, who goes against the guy very much, make this worthwhile. Even if the turnaround manages to surprise you? All the best.

The film is a mystery and a thriller that is initially wrapped in a bit of melodrama. Lauren Monroe (Lily Collins) is an ambitious young prosecutor in New York. Lauren, the daughter of wealthy and powerful Archer Monroe (Patrick Warburton), has always followed a more altruistic path than the rest of the family, including her congressman William Monroe (Chace Crawford). When the Patriarch of the Monroe family dies unexpectedly, she leaves most of her legacy to her wife Catherine Monroe (Connie Nielsen) and William. Lauren receives some money, but also a secret from Archer that she only trusts. This is how a descent into something rather strange begins, in which a man named Morgan Warner (Pegg) is involved. What happens when they find themselves and under what circumstances they are best left undetected, but it's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of shocking secrets. Vaughn Stein directed a script by Matthew Kennedy with a camera by Michael Merriman, while Marlon Espino composed the score. Supporting players include Michael Beach, Alec James, Josh Murray, Mark Richardson, and more.

Lily Collins and especially Simon Pegg sell the sometimes absurd nature of this film and make it work most of the time. Collins plays a good person who is constantly at odds with the wealth and privileges he grew up with, which can be seen in numerous flashbacks of battles between Lauren and Archer. As for Pegg, the less talk about who's playing, the better, but all I know is that he's happy in a different round than anything he's done before. Pegg takes the opportunity to sink his teeth into a role that is constantly evolving. Their scenes together have a tension that is pretty compelling and drives the narrative forward.

Inheritance is a film that seems to be aware that it is just a gender fee. Clichés and topics are part of the package. Anyone who compares it to the parasite that is only broadly reflected (and to be clear, not nearly as high as it is) is making an unfair comparison. They are just two very different things. Vaughn Stein, Matthew Kennedy, and Company just want to make a dirty and mysterious little thriller. They are successful in this area, although the bloated barrel length and the dependence on a curve that makes them come (I'm still vague to preserve the experience for those who see them) are certain shortcomings.

Nowadays, audiences looking for something at the B-movie level are likely to spend a decent amount of time inheriting. It has its shortcomings, but Collins and Pegg (especially Pegg) are so easy to see here that you can't take your eyes off the screen. Note that this is an imperfect film, but it offers some dirty fun. It's not the best option this week/weekend, but it's not the worst, so it deserves a little recommendation.