When properly executed, there’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned ghost story. After all, there is a reason that they have been so popular since the turn of the century. From primitive campfire tales to contemporary feature films, they’re a phenomenon that isn’t going anywhere soon. So, whether you love them or hate them – they’re here to stay. I simply chalk it up to the fear of death being a fundamental part of the human experience. As far as titles within the supernatural horror subgenre go, The Inheritance stands as a satisfactory addition to what is already a prolific pantheon of films.

The story follows a woman named Sasha (Natalia Ryumina), who travels to Ukraine with her husband Peter (Nick Wittman) to settle the estate of her recently deceased grandfather. However, this proves to be no easy task, specifically regarding one particular building that the old man once owned. As mysterious players apply continuous pressure to sell off this newfound asset, Sasha learns that all is not as it seems within its dusty walls. As it turns out, the property is haunted by the shadow of dark family secrets – among other, less explainable things.

Admittedly, my initial response to the film was a tremendous feeling of disappointment. You see, I am not at all a fan of modern supernatural horror. While I do have an assortment of reasons for this, I’ll spare you those details for now. That will just have to be a topic for another day. Either way, judging solely on first impressions, I thought that this was to going to be yet another half-assed attempt to reimagine previous films like The Conjuring or The Haunting in Connecticut. However, as the movie progressed, I was relieved to find that this wasn’t the case. In terms of overall quality, The Inheritance actually left me pleasantly surprised.  

Firstly, I must confess that I found myself effectively drawn in by the visuals. The cinematography and set design are gorgeously done, which adds a significant, moody atmosphere to the presentation. This is hands-down the best part of the film – the highlight of what would have otherwise been a rather mediocre production. Sadly, this still doesn’t manage to redeem the movie from its more notable, glaring flaws. The acting performances throughout the film are stiff, almost to the point of being lifeless. There is also a heavy reliance on jump scares, which is an ongoing trend that I personally find to be profoundly irritating. Aside from these issues, I found that the plot wasn’t as strong as it could have been. It had potential but ultimately missed the mark, which is a real shame. 

In summary, The Inheritance, while not without its charm, is undeniably far from being perfect.  

5.5 out of 10