The Principals.
Henry - Profession: Fighter. Social status in the setting: Alpha male. Attributes: Great voice and way of talking; smooth, masculine. Recommendation: Higher this guy to do late night radio or malt liquor commercials.
Simpson - Profession: Programmer. Social status in the setting: Wimp. Attributes: Resembles Spike Lee. Recommendation: Take to parties, but leave behind if you have serious sh!t to do --like maybe saving your life.
Karen - Profession: Stability and regular checks (Don't ask). Social status in the setting: Alpha female. Attributes: Attractive almond eyes and there is some evidence that one could have intense bathroom sex with her. Recommedation: Loan one of her balls to Simpson.
Lilly - Profession: Cook. Social status in the setting: Virgin. Well, "lesbian" --close enough for the cult. Attributes: Attractive light brown eyes and a good run-away-companion if you need one. Surprised Simpson didn't take the tip. Recommendation: Hire her for your ritual dances or your next bachelor or bachelorette party.
Tyrone - Profession: Writer. Social status in the setting: I'm not sure. Attributes: Nondescript. Can groan good if injured, though. Recommendation: Hire if you need someone to blend into the background.
Uncle Melvin - Profession: Something lucrative. Social status in the setting: Lead elder. Attributes: Self-assured. Recommendation: Use him if you need someone to nonchalantly pull the switch at an execution. Additional comments: More than likely will single-handedly send the demand for bathroom locks sky high.
The movie begins with a brief glimpse of the roots of a generational cult that began at some point during the days of slavery. Present day: Oblivious of this, 5 black cousins (3 men, 2 women) and a white couple are driving to a family reunion with the "elders" of their 5 wealthy black families. It is winter time and there are some complaints. When they finally arrive, their host "uncle Melvin" is not there but has left them a box of booze on the bar in the mean time. I don't have to tell you that they appreciated that.
After screwing around a bit with a snow mobile and some snowball fights, they return inside to settle down and acquaint themselves anew with glasses of uncle Melvin's fine booze; the quality of which is verified by the fact that the white couple cannot keep their hands off each other and are forced to retire for modesty's sake after some looks from the others. After they leave there is some entertaining, well acted dialog about each other's motive for being there and why one of the cousins (Simpson) brought his boss and his wife with him (you guessed right; the white couple). About 22 minutes or so into the film uncle Melvin and his crew of old people --sorry, "elders" --show up. He shortly gives the cousins a history lesson about their roots and their deliverer. He tells of the appearance of a compelling black man with supernatural powers who makes promises of freedom, wealth, and prosperity to some slaves in exchange for sacrifices to him. The film takes us back in time to graphically illustrate this while he narrates. Meantime, the cousins look on incredulously (save Tyrone who's as serious as a judge). No one more so than Simpson who looks like he's about to have a fit of laughter and eventually does. --For a price though.
The Inheritance is an interesting addition to the horror genre because it is horror from the perspective of black people; their culture and history. But beyond the window dressing of an almost all-black cast The Inheritance is also interesting because it has strong visualizations; is creatively and stylishly filmed. As well, it has excellent (very believable) dramatic acting that draws you in. Usually in a horror movie you can't wait for the creature, the monster, the freak --or whatever-- to make a show. But in this movie (for me, anyway) the horror or supernatural aspect was only an "exotic backdrop" for interesting dramatic dialog and interaction. In other words, I found I was more interested in the people than anything else. So much so that I forgot --or didn't care that it was supposed to be a horror movie. Good thing too, because this movie is more interesting and entertaining as a "drama" and "group character study" than as a horror movie. Love, Boloxxi
Henry - Profession: Fighter. Social status in the setting: Alpha male. Attributes: Great voice and way of talking; smooth, masculine. Recommendation: Higher this guy to do late night radio or malt liquor commercials.
Simpson - Profession: Programmer. Social status in the setting: Wimp. Attributes: Resembles Spike Lee. Recommendation: Take to parties, but leave behind if you have serious sh!t to do --like maybe saving your life.
Karen - Profession: Stability and regular checks (Don't ask). Social status in the setting: Alpha female. Attributes: Attractive almond eyes and there is some evidence that one could have intense bathroom sex with her. Recommedation: Loan one of her balls to Simpson.
Lilly - Profession: Cook. Social status in the setting: Virgin. Well, "lesbian" --close enough for the cult. Attributes: Attractive light brown eyes and a good run-away-companion if you need one. Surprised Simpson didn't take the tip. Recommendation: Hire her for your ritual dances or your next bachelor or bachelorette party.
Tyrone - Profession: Writer. Social status in the setting: I'm not sure. Attributes: Nondescript. Can groan good if injured, though. Recommendation: Hire if you need someone to blend into the background.
Uncle Melvin - Profession: Something lucrative. Social status in the setting: Lead elder. Attributes: Self-assured. Recommendation: Use him if you need someone to nonchalantly pull the switch at an execution. Additional comments: More than likely will single-handedly send the demand for bathroom locks sky high.
The movie begins with a brief glimpse of the roots of a generational cult that began at some point during the days of slavery. Present day: Oblivious of this, 5 black cousins (3 men, 2 women) and a white couple are driving to a family reunion with the "elders" of their 5 wealthy black families. It is winter time and there are some complaints. When they finally arrive, their host "uncle Melvin" is not there but has left them a box of booze on the bar in the mean time. I don't have to tell you that they appreciated that.
After screwing around a bit with a snow mobile and some snowball fights, they return inside to settle down and acquaint themselves anew with glasses of uncle Melvin's fine booze; the quality of which is verified by the fact that the white couple cannot keep their hands off each other and are forced to retire for modesty's sake after some looks from the others. After they leave there is some entertaining, well acted dialog about each other's motive for being there and why one of the cousins (Simpson) brought his boss and his wife with him (you guessed right; the white couple). About 22 minutes or so into the film uncle Melvin and his crew of old people --sorry, "elders" --show up. He shortly gives the cousins a history lesson about their roots and their deliverer. He tells of the appearance of a compelling black man with supernatural powers who makes promises of freedom, wealth, and prosperity to some slaves in exchange for sacrifices to him. The film takes us back in time to graphically illustrate this while he narrates. Meantime, the cousins look on incredulously (save Tyrone who's as serious as a judge). No one more so than Simpson who looks like he's about to have a fit of laughter and eventually does. --For a price though.
The Inheritance is an interesting addition to the horror genre because it is horror from the perspective of black people; their culture and history. But beyond the window dressing of an almost all-black cast The Inheritance is also interesting because it has strong visualizations; is creatively and stylishly filmed. As well, it has excellent (very believable) dramatic acting that draws you in. Usually in a horror movie you can't wait for the creature, the monster, the freak --or whatever-- to make a show. But in this movie (for me, anyway) the horror or supernatural aspect was only an "exotic backdrop" for interesting dramatic dialog and interaction. In other words, I found I was more interested in the people than anything else. So much so that I forgot --or didn't care that it was supposed to be a horror movie. Good thing too, because this movie is more interesting and entertaining as a "drama" and "group character study" than as a horror movie. Love, Boloxxi