Have you ever wondered what makes you who you are? Is it your life experiences, or are you bound by your genetics? Inheritance (2018), directed by Tyler Savage, is a psychological thriller that asks some hard questions about the impact that family has on our lives. The film even goes a little further beyond nature vs nurture and asks if we can shake the influences… or curses, of our family relationships.
(This kid is gonna be so fucked up…)
As Inheritance (2018) opens, we are introduced to Ryan Bowman (Chase Joliet), your average working class dude who toils away in the desert as a carpenter (possible religious reference here?). He soon finds out that his biological father (Tim Abel) has left him the deed to a property in central coast California worth a large amount of money. This leaves Ryan with a heavy choice to make for him and his pregnant fianceÌ (Sara Montez); make it a home for his new family, or just sell the house and take the cash.
(or burn it… whatever)
This doesn’t sound like such a scary premise for a film, in fact, it sounds like a dream come true. However, this house and this family come with a history, and that makes choosing between old traditions and new beginnings that much more difficult.
The film is beautifully shot, it is minimalistically written, and it is strongly themed. The whole picture is filled with symbolism and allusions. For instance, throughout Inheritance, Ryan tries to grow out of his family history and be the one who breaks the cycle of violence; however, later we see a character posed in the hanged man position. In Tarot lore, it can mean a person who is unable to change the course of their fate. The futility of trying to control his destiny, the dominant gravity of his heritage, and the stress of resisting those forces all weigh heavily on the protagonist of Inheritance. We get to see his mind struggle and warp under the pressure. It makes for a great story.
(I used to live in Central Coast, CA. It’s really hard to make that place scary.)
Another interpretation of Inheritance could be a religious one. Ryan is a carpenter from the desert, he inherits the house his father built, both the son and the father are surfers (which is basically the same as walking on water), and he is burdened with carrying the responsibility for the sins of the family, and so on… Whichever interpretation the writer and director intended is unknown to me, but either way, Inheritance has a lot to unpack. So, on June 15th, you should check out Inheritance when it becomes available to rent or own on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.
Inheritance Trailer from Tyler Savage on Vimeo.
