Here’s another interesting new Italian release, L’erede, directed by Michael Zampino. It’s described as a psychological noir. The synopsis goes like this:
After the death of his father, Bruno, a doctor from Milan, takes possession of an old villa set in the wilds of the Apennines. The inheritance, however, proves to be a curse. When he meets his rude and suspicious neighbours, he becomes entangled in a web of suspicions that will change his life forever…
Zampino’s a new name to me, although he’s previously made a short called Goodbye Antonio, but it was co-written, interestingly, by Ugo Chiti, a screenwriter who has worked repeatedly with Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah, The Embalmer) and Giovanni Veronesi (Italians, Genitori & figli – Agitare bene prima dell’uso). Lead actor Alessandro Roja was a regular on the TV version of Romanzo Criminale. It hasn’t exactly had a huge release, appearing in just 5 cinema, but that’s all that the latest Argento film has played in as well.
Reviews have been broadly positive. CineZone gave it 2.5 out of four stars, saying: “This is how a film without much money should be made… with a good idea and sound technique… Pupi Avati would surely applaud this film as it was surely inspired by his thrillers.” Comingsoon refers to it as a “genre film that is very nicely done – if a bit predictable – smoothly made and with a good atmosphere.” Sounds promising…
Here’s the trailer: