Inheritance Premieres on Streaming Platforms

Evanne Evans, 5 May 2025

Directed by Neil Burger, "Inheritance" is an intense action thriller featuring Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans. The film follows Maya, who becomes entangled in an international conspiracy after uncovering a shocking truth about her father.

This suspense-laden thriller delves into the dark secrets lurking within a powerful and seemingly perfect family. The story opens with the death of the wealthy family patriarch, Archer Monroe, whose passing leaves his daughter, Lauren Monroe (played by Lily Collins), a shocking posthumous legacy: the key to a secret underground bunker. There she discovers Morgan Warner (portrayed by Simon Pegg), a mysterious man imprisoned for decades and entwined with the family’s most shadowy dealings. As Lauren unravels the truth, she is forced to confront the destructive consequences of privilege, power, and the corrosive nature of hidden sins. Critics have praised “Inheritance” for its intriguing storyline and Simon Pegg’s transformative performance, which offers a haunting contrast to his usual comedic roles, and Lily Collins is commended for bringing both vulnerability and strength to her character.

Some reviewers note that the plot’s ambitious twists occasionally stretch believability, resulting in mixed critical scores on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Despite this, audiences have generally responded well to the film’s tension, psychological cat-and-mouse dynamic, and stylized atmosphere.

The inspiration for the film is said to draw from classic noir themes and the tradition of keeping family secrets under lock and key. Screenwriter Matthew Kennedy has cited an interest in the ethical dilemmas posed by legacy and what families will do to protect themselves. The narrative is intentionally claustrophobic, using the bunker setting as both a literal prison and a metaphor for the secrets we bury.