The Curious Case of the Inheritance

When the last remaining relatives of a billionaire philanthropist gather for his will reading, it soon transpires that only one of them can win the massive family fortune. Thrust into a riddle-filled game night, with just an hour to solve cryptic clues, everyone quickly resorts to desperate measures. But with each family member seemingly hiding secrets of their own, it appears an even bigger mystery is waiting to be solved. A dark comedy set in 1950s London, The Curious Case of the Inheritance pays homage to classic detective noir films and Agatha Christie’s novels.

  • Courtney Hopkins
    Writer / Director / Producer
    Impossible Escapes (6 Part Doc Series, 2021), Bargain Mansions (34 episodes, 2017-2020), Room Tone (Short film, 2018), The Outsiders (6 part doc series, 2016), Children of Immy Yethu (documentary)
  • Lydia Anderson
    Producer
  • Andrew Thomas
    Director of Photography
    Procession (2020)
  • Alison Grasso
    Editor
    Hope You Fail (2021), Volcano Bread (2016)
  • Simon Willshire
    Key Cast
    "The Private Eye"
  • Rebecca Bugeja
    Key Cast
    "The Widow"
  • Kimberley Ellis
    Key Cast
    "The Heiress"
  • Anna Ivankovic
    Key Cast
    "The Fashion Designer"
  • Reece Bollen
    Key Cast
    "The Art Professor"
  • Nick Fortna
    Key Cast
    "The Butler"
  • Yoann Desmoyers-Davis
    Camera Operator
    Panic (2016)
  • Anastasia Rendina
    Art Director
  • Avirim Spies
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Dark Comedy, Mystery
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 5, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Large Format, 4k, ARRI
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Courtney Hopkins has been killing off her friends since she was a teenager. Her early passion for making horror films has turned into a decades-long career that spans film, television and advertising. Her work has taken her around the world, including England, Japan, and several African countries.

'The Curious Case of the Inheritance' is her writing and directorial debut.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

‘The Curious Case of the Inheritance' is really a culmination of a lifetime spent loving Agathe Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart. The idea for this short film actually came to me while I was writing murder mystery parties as Christmas gifts for my family. Unfortunately for my family, writing this script took priority and they got giftcards for Christmas instead.

As a writer, my focus was creating layers in the characters dialogue and actions, so with repeat viewings there is a wholly different story that unfolds for the audience to enjoy. As a director, it was important to me that I put a contemporary twist on a classic format.