Horror is a genre like any other, riddled with clichés and tropes that can make a project feel inherently formulaic. These aren’t necessarily bad, but they can put a film at a disadvantage right from the get-go. The latest film by Thai filmmaker Banjong Pisanthanakun, Inherit, features many of what I consider familiar genre clichés and tropes; however, rather than doing anything interesting with them, it results in a film that feels truly mean‑spirited and nasty.

After the death of a family member, the wealthy Manasvanich family are still dealing with their loss when Grandma Woranart (Davika Hoorne) suddenly appears, looking as though she hasn’t aged a day despite being in her eighties. Woranart quickly gravitates toward the youngest daughter, Oui (Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp). However, there seems to be more to Woranart than meets the eye, as people begin dying mysteriously after her arrival.

As a horror film, you’d expect it to be at least scary or keep you on the edge of your seat, triggering those nerves that make you shiver. Instead, I found myself more annoyed and frustrated, perplexed by how poorly written and underdeveloped the characters are. With a mysterious woman suddenly re‑entering the family’s life, I assumed the female characters would have more depth, agency, and awareness of the obvious sinister grandma being deliciously evil in every scene.

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However, most of the women simply regard her as a bit odd. Hoorne is genuinely enigmatic as Grandma Woranart, capturing the devilish allure the role demands; yet the fact that only the male characters seem to recognise who she truly is feels strangely gross, especially given how clearly toxic her behaviour becomes. The mother finding it merely ‘weird’ that Woranart is completely reshaping her daughter’s personality is baffling. Even if the women are written as lacking true awareness, the men are equally foolish, leading to several scenes where the horror unfolds purely because the male characters behave like complete idiots.

One moment in the final act is truly perplexing given the context: the characters panic over the eldest son assaulting a young man, even though he was the one allegedly controlling the laptop that was about to display footage implying he is a paedophile. The film never clarifies whether this was actually happening or merely a hallucination. All of this contributes to a tone that feels nasty and in poor taste at its core, culminating in a final scene I found laughable and reliant on oddly dated tropes.

Even the film’s cinematography and score are disappointingly bland, relying on basic shot choices and a cliché violin‑based soundtrack you’ve heard in a dozen similar horror films. It’s frustrating, because the film has the bones of an enthralling and genuinely frightening experience, yet it ultimately opts for the safest and most lacklustre approach to the genre.

Inherit could have been something special, but instead I felt a kind of sadness while watching it, wishing for more tension, more scares, more bite. The film feels like it has very little to say, and what it does say comes across as uninspired and bland. For fans of the genre, this might still offer a decent time, but if you want something more substantial, it will leave you sorely disappointed.

★★

Had its World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival / Davika Hoorne, Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp, Sinjai Plengpanich, Trin Settachoke, Warattaya Nilkuha / Dir: Banjong Pisanthanakun

About the Author

Robert Ewing

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Rob is a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

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