Quick Facts
| Title | The Inheritance |
|---|---|
| Type | Movie (horror-thriller) |
| Release Date | July 12, 2024 (theaters & on demand) |
| Director | Alejandro Brugués |
| Composers | Mike Griffin & Mike Schanzlin |
| Distributor | Vertical Entertainment |
The Inheritance is a 2024 American horror-thriller directed by Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), starring Bob Gunton as billionaire patriarch Charles Abernathy. On the eve of his 75th birthday, Charles gathers his estranged adult children and reveals that he believes someone intends to kill him at midnight — and that only the children who protect him will share in the family fortune. As the night unfolds, old resentments and hidden motives surface among the siblings.
The film was written by Chris Lamont and Joe Russo and produced by Paul Schiff Productions. It was originally set up as a Netflix original before the streamer passed on it; Vertical Entertainment ultimately released it in select theaters and on demand on July 12, 2024.
The cast includes Bob Gunton as Charles Abernathy, Rachel Nichols as Teresa, Austin Stowell as Drew, Briana Middleton as Reese, David Walton as George, and Peyton List as Sophia.
The Inheritance Soundtrack (Score)
The original score for The Inheritance is composed by Mike Griffin and Mike Schanzlin. Reviewers singled out the score as one of the film’s stronger elements, using tense strings and low-end drones to sustain the film’s single-location, real-time thriller structure. As of this writing, no standalone soundtrack album has been released for streaming.
Note: this page previously conflated details from at least three unrelated productions that share the title “The Inheritance” — the 2020 Vaughn Stein film starring Lily Collins and Simon Pegg, a 2023 UK Channel 5 drama series, and this 2024 Alejandro Brugués thriller. It has been corrected to cover the 2024 film only, which matches the cast referenced throughout this article.
Not to Be Confused With…
The title “The Inheritance” has been used for several unrelated productions, which is a common source of mix-ups online:
- The Inheritance (2024) — the Alejandro Brugués horror-thriller covered in this article, starring Bob Gunton and Rachel Nichols.
- Inheritance (2020) — a separate mystery-thriller directed by Vaughn Stein, starring Lily Collins, Simon Pegg and Connie Nielsen.
- The Inheritance (2023) — a UK Channel 5 drama miniseries, unrelated to either film above.
Reception
Critics gave The Inheritance (2024) mixed reviews, generally praising the cast’s performances and the tense, real-time structure while noting the plot covers familiar “wealthy family turns on itself” ground. Several reviewers specifically called out the score by Mike Griffin and Mike Schanzlin as one of the film’s more effective elements in sustaining suspense across the single-location setting.
Plot Summary
As Charles Abernathy’s midnight deadline approaches, the siblings are forced to confront both an outside threat and their own history of betrayals, rivalries and buried secrets. The film unfolds largely in real time inside the family’s estate, using the ticking-clock structure to keep tension high as alliances between the siblings shift. Director Alejandro Brugués, best known for the zombie-comedy Juan of the Dead, brings a leaner, more grounded thriller sensibility here than his earlier genre work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the score for The Inheritance (2024)?
Mike Griffin and Mike Schanzlin composed the original score.
Is The Inheritance (2024) on Netflix?
No. It was originally set up at Netflix but the streamer passed on it; Vertical Entertainment released it theatrically and on demand on July 12, 2024.
Who stars in The Inheritance (2024)?
Bob Gunton leads as patriarch Charles Abernathy, alongside Rachel Nichols, Austin Stowell, Briana Middleton, David Walton and Peyton List.
What genre is The Inheritance (2024)?
It’s classified as a horror-thriller, though it plays closer to a real-time family thriller than a traditional horror film.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks, Streaming guides.