INHERITANCE -- iPhone Film is a Deeply Flawed but Engaging Experiment in Guerilla Filmmaking

Review by Camden Ferrell

​Movies shot with an iPhone are nothing new, being used in previous years by established directors like Steven Soderbergh and Sean Baker. Now, Neil Burger is the newest director to try his hand at the relatively recent art of smartphone filmmaking. His new movie, Inheritance, is a fun exercise with an unconventional camera although it does suffer at times from a thin story that isn’t particularly compelling.
 
After the death of her mother, Maya reconnects with her estranged father. Together, they take a trip to Egypt where she soon realizes her father was once a spy. She is quickly thrown into an international conspiracy where she must travel across the world to figure out who her father truly is. This is an interesting premise for an espionage thriller, especially one shot with an iPhone since the run-and-gun style of shooting could align with the type of story being told.
 
Written by Burger and Olen Steinhauer, the movie is at its best when it focuses on the conversations and interactions of its main characters. While the dialogue isn’t particularly impressive, these slower moments are compelling to watch when compared to the more high-octane sequences throughout the movie. The movie’s biggest flaw is that the moments of tension and chaos feel thin and insignificant. It’s executed well, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired as far as substance is concerned.

The acting in this movie is strong even if it’s nothing particularly memorable. Phoebe Dynevor leads this movie as Maya, and she does a great job at adapting to the guerilla style, permitless shooting that Burger carried out. She feels very natural embodying this character and all of her idiosyncrasies, and she’s a reliable force throughout. Rhys Ifans also stars alongside her as her father Sam, and even though his performance is fairly minimal, he is very serviceable in the moments that matter most.
 
While there are many problems with this film, I can’t help but be in awe of Burger’s ability to use the iPhone to such a gratifying extent. I personally am biased as I always appreciate when filmmakers use “cheap” cameras to make their movies, and this kept me glued to the screen from start to finish. Sure, it doesn’t look as polished as professional film cameras, but I can’t help but fall in love with how scrappy this final product is. Especially after hearing about how Burger shot this entire movie without any kind of permission (this includes genuinely executed retail theft), it’s quite an inspiration to see all this kind of work.
 
Inheritance suffers due to a thin plot that on its own isn’t particularly engaging. However, Neil Burger’s use of an iPhone and guerilla filmmaking still make this a worthwhile experiment. Those who have previous inclinations against smartphone cinematography might not be swayed by this film, but for those who appreciate an imperfect yet passionate use of affordable gear, this will surely satisfy.
 
Inheritance is in theaters January 24.
 
Rating: 3.5/5