Film Review: INHERITANCE (2025): A Middle-of-the-road Spy Thriller Kept Interesting by Neil Burger’s Direction

Inheritance Review

Inheritance (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by Neil Burger, written by Olen Steinhauer, and starring Phoebe Dynevor, Rhys Ifans, and Tom Felton.

This was my first time watching a Neil Burger film, and while Inheritance won’t redefine the spy thriller, it’s clear the man knows his way around a camera. The movie seeks to hold its own alongside more iconic spy thrillers, managing to shine through compelling location choices, measured tension, and a lead character who carries the film. Can Burger’s Inheritance pack the punch that Paul Greengrass brought to The Bourne Identity, or will it ultimately fall short of its legacy?

Unlike the sleek, jet-setting aesthetic of a Bond film, Inheritance prefers its settings claustrophobic, dingy, and chaotic. We hop between Cairo, Delhi, and Seoul—an itinerary that already has my attention before the plot even starts. Travel is a personal passion, and any movie that tosses in a sobering, “We have to go to Cairo,” immediately has me. Burger’s decision to embrace the grit of these cities instead of their postcard-perfect glamour adds to the sense of paranoia and unease, mirroring Maya’s growing uncertainty.

Inheritance runs on the classic “ordinary person thrown into espionage” premise, and Phoebe Dynevor does a solid job balancing confusion, quick thinking, and sheer survival instinct. Think Jason Bourne without the military training. We don’t see a lot of female-led spy thrillers, let alone ones where the protagonist is an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things. You can watch Salt, Atomic Blonde, and their ilk, but it’s Maya’s everywoman persona that makes her journey feel like a refreshing change. Perhaps Maya has more in common with Ellen Ripley than Ethan Hunt. Watching Maya discover skills she never thought she had tapped into that universal fantasy of, Maybe I could do this too. Spoiler: I can’t, but it’s fun to pretend… 

For a spy thriller, there’s not much action—but what is there works well. Burger takes his time, letting tension simmer instead of throwing in an explosion every five minutes. My favorite sequence is a slow-speed scooter chase through Delhi, a clever spin on the classic car pursuit. Instead of rip-roaring horsepower, Berger prioritizes proximity—Maya barely staying ahead of her pursuers in the tightly packed, chaotic streets. The film’s shaky cam, guerrilla-style filmmaking amplifies the sense of unpredictability, giving off a run-and-gun vibe reminiscent of Run Lola Run. Sometimes all it takes is an iPhone gaff taped to a scooter helmet to make you feel the momentum, the desperation, and real-world stakes. 

Where the film struggles is in its depth—or lack of it. With only two main characters driving the mystery, it’s not exactly hard to see the twists coming. Maya’s strained relationship with her father (Rhys Ifans) carries a bit of emotional weight, but some of his key decisions feel frustratingly flimsy. Even Maya calls them into question but without adequate resolve. The film introduces deeper themes—grief, trust, betrayal—but never fully commits to exploring them profoundly or insightfully. An apt tagline might simply read, “Daddy issues… am I right?”

And then there’s the bigger challenge: Inheritance exists in the shadow of giants. North by Northwest, The Bourne Identity, The 39 Steps, Charade—these are masterclasses in the “regular person swept into espionage” genre. They mix thrilling plots, sharp character dynamics, and a real sense of adventure. Inheritance tries to carve its own space but often feels like a brittle carbon copy of better films. If you haven’t seen the classics, do yourself a favor—watch those first.

That said, if you’ve already burned through the greats and want something fresh, Inheritance is worth a look. It doesn’t have the strongest plot, but Burger’s direction keeps things interesting enough. If you’re looking for something deeper or more action-packed, you may find Inheritance lacking in comparison to its more iconic counterparts.

Final verdict? A middle-of-the-road movie—much like Maya on the back of that scooter, Inheritance is going nowhere fast. 

Rating: 6/10

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