'Inheritance' falls short as a smartphone-shot thriller

Neil Burger’s globe-trotting film struggles with storytelling and style.

Phoebe Dynevor as Maya in a starkly different role from "Bridgerton" in "Inheritance." © IFC Films

By Novanka Laras and Sarah Oktaviany

Smartphone technology has steadily influenced filmmaking, offering directors an innovative way to capture stories. Pioneers like Sean Baker, who shot Tangerine on an iPhone, and Steven Soderbergh, with his iPhone-filmed Unsane and High Flying Bird, have embraced this approach. Charlie Kaufman’s poetic short Jackals and Fireflies, filmed on a Samsung Galaxy, and Danny Boyle’s upcoming 28 Years Later shot with an iPhone, highlight the growing trend. Documentaries have also extensively used smartphone footage due to its practicality.

This evolution in filmmaking aligns with how technology has historically driven cinematic innovation. Smaller, portable cameras revolutionized on-location shooting, while the introduction of sound, color, and digital cameras redefined storytelling methods. The lightweight, high-quality cameras in smartphones now offer unparalleled flexibility. However, the challenge lies in using this tool to create compelling films that rise above amateur attempts. Unfortunately, Neil Burger’s Inheritance fails to meet this challenge, delivering an underwhelming thriller despite its global scale and intriguing premise.

The appeal of shooting on smartphones is undeniable. These devices are lightweight, discreet, and capable of capturing high-resolution footage. Visionary directors like Sean Baker and Steven Soderbergh used smartphone cameras to enhance their storytelling, ensuring that the form complemented the function. For example, Tangerine leveraged the raw, vibrant aesthetic of an iPhone to depict its characters’ chaotic lives authentically.

Yet, as Inheritance demonstrates, the use of smartphone technology alone cannot guarantee a successful film. Directed by Neil Burger, known for The Illusionist, Limitless, and the first Divergent film, Inheritance attempts to marry guerrilla-style filmmaking with a high-stakes narrative of betrayal and mystery. The result, however, is a poorly executed thriller that lacks the suspense and character depth necessary to engage its audience.

Inheritance stars Phoebe Dynevor, shedding her Bridgerton persona to play Maya, a directionless young woman grieving the loss of her mother. Maya’s estranged father, played by Rhys Ifans, reappears at the funeral and offers her an unexpected job—escorting wealthy clients across international cities during real estate transactions. Initially reluctant, Maya agrees, embarking on a globe-trotting journey that takes her to Cairo and beyond.

While this premise has potential, the film stumbles in execution. Maya spends much of the film chasing her father or unraveling half-baked clues, leaving viewers consistently a step ahead of her. The result is a thriller devoid of tension. A successful thriller hinges on keeping its audience on edge, but Inheritance never builds the suspense or intrigue necessary to deliver on its premise.

One of the film’s glaring weaknesses is its lack of character development. Maya’s personality is reduced to a cynical attitude, a penchant for shoplifting, and an unsteady American accent. Although her father repeatedly praises her as driven and competent, these traits are never convincingly portrayed on screen. Minor characters deliver vague platitudes about Maya’s late mother, hinting at themes of morality and personal growth, but these ideas are too shallow to leave an impact.

This lack of depth makes it difficult for viewers to invest in Maya’s journey. Thrillers often rely on their protagonists’ complexity to engage audiences, but Maya remains a flat, uninteresting character throughout the film. 

Burger’s decision to adopt an “experimental style of shooting” further hampers the film. Instead of rehearsing scenes and setting up shots, the filmmakers embraced a loose, impromptu approach, capturing footage on bustling streets in locations like Mumbai and Cairo. While this method can add authenticity to certain genres, such as documentaries or gritty dramas, it does not suit the polished, globe-trotting aesthetic Inheritance aims to achieve.

The result is a film that feels amateurish and disjointed. Lines often sound read rather than acted, and the shaky, handheld footage lacks the polish expected in a high-stakes thriller. A guerrilla-style approach can work when it enhances the story’s authenticity, but in Inheritance, it detracts from the narrative and makes the film difficult to follow.

Smartphone-shot films can succeed when their aesthetic aligns with their story. For example, Sean Baker’s Tangerine used its iPhone footage to create a raw, immediate feel that matched its characters’ chaotic lives. Similarly, Steven Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird used smartphone cameras to emphasize its sleek, fast-paced narrative about professional basketball.

In contrast, Inheritance fails to connect its aesthetic to its story. The loose, handheld style undermines the film’s attempt at creating a polished, suspenseful thriller. The lack of cohesion between form and function leaves viewers questioning why this approach was chosen at all.

The shortcomings of Inheritance highlight the risks of relying on smartphone technology without a strong narrative foundation. While smartphones offer exciting possibilities for filmmakers, they are merely tools. Successful films require compelling stories, well-developed characters, and thoughtful execution—elements that Inheritance sorely lacks.

By attempting to replicate the innovation of directors like Sean Baker and Steven Soderbergh without their narrative clarity or aesthetic vision, Inheritance serves as a cautionary tale. Filmmakers who embrace smartphone technology must ensure that their use of the medium enhances the story rather than detracts from it.

Inheritance had the potential to be a groundbreaking film, blending smartphone technology with a globe-trotting thriller narrative. Unfortunately, its underdeveloped characters, lackluster story, and poorly executed aesthetic leave it falling far short of its ambitions.

For audiences intrigued by the possibilities of smartphone filmmaking, Inheritance may serve as a reminder of what happens when form fails to follow function. The film’s inability to deliver a compelling story or a cohesive aesthetic underscores the importance of balancing innovation with substance in the evolving world of cinema. Sometimes, as Inheritance suggests, it’s better to stick with the classics—or, perhaps, just stay home.

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