Booze has a special knack for bringing uncomfortable secrets to the surface, and it doesn’t get much more emotionally destructive than drunken revelations at a wake.
Mara and Aaron have been lovers for only a few months, but their unbridled passion and sweet companionship show potential for a remarkable romance. He accompanies her to Belize, where she was raised after her mother died, to celebrate her father’s 70th birthday. Shortly after their arrival, Mara receives the news that her dad has died unexpectedly, and the drama snowball starts rolling.
Written and directed by Laura E. Davis and Jessica Kaye (who stars as Mara), Inheritance takes an interesting approach to exploring inner demons: Set a funeral in a tropical paradise, load estranged family members up with alcohol, and let the chips fall where they may. It works. Kaye gives a powerful, moving performance as she embodies a character who exhibits a difficult range of emotion as she navigates both the apparent trauma bubbling to the surface and her tricky relationships with everyone around her. Aaron, a recovering addict, understands the need to soften sharp edges and dull pain, but as the plot thickens, and lies are exposed, his relationship with his new girlfriend is more than a little strained. Sex goes from deliciously primal to an obvious psychological avoidance device for Mara. Enter Ben, Mara’s brother. In a compelling performance, Mark Webber portrays a complicated man with a fascinating, and troubled, relationship with his sister.
Well-scored and shot beautifully, the film’s dramatic pacing uses foreshadowing as foreplay, and the impending climax is substantial. Ritualistic attempts at closure won’t suffice for this group of people, and the directorial use of full-blown sensory overload to depict the tension is an excellent choice. Creative and twisted, the film seduces its audience, but one particular scene in the third act may leave some viewers scrambling to process what was inevitably coming all along. Drums and handjobs, grief and pills, camaraderie and the truth. Funerals are for the living.
Inheritance
Narrative Feature, World Premiere
Monday, March 13, 6:30pm, Alamo Ritz 2
Thursday, March 16, 3:30pm, Alamo Ritz 2
This article appears in March 17 • 2017 and March 10 • 2017.