Inherit turns the pursuit of eternal youth into family horror

Banjong Pisanthanakun's Thai horror film Inherit combines family secrets with satire about staying young. In an October 9 review, City A.M. praises Davika Hoorne's performance and the visual style while questioning the ending.

The story centres on the Manasvanich family, already facing a crisis over a chemical leak at its factory. An elderly relative, Woranart, unexpectedly returns looking like a young woman. Her arrival disrupts the household and is followed by violent deaths.

Woranart develops a close bond with teenage Oui. Asked about her youthful appearance, she mentions Botox, GLP-1 drugs and chemical peels. Her real secret is a connection to a centipede demon, leaving relatives to prevent it from taking another host.

Pisanthanakun is known for Shutter and The Medium, and Hoorne plays Woranart. The Busan International Film Festival programme confirms the director and actress. City A.M.'s reviewer highlights the exaggerated allure of Hoorne's performance.

The reviewer also points to a familiar exorcism narrative translated into a Buddhist setting, with monks and Buddha statues replacing priests and Christian symbols. The review credits the opening section with gradually building tension and using sudden shocks with restraint.

The growing reliance on computer-generated monsters, however, makes the horror less effective in the reviewer's assessment. The resolution is judged less convincing than the preceding narrative. Despite those reservations, City A.M. views the film as a satire on the pursuit of youth and flawless appearance.