Legacy is the second film from up and coming director/writer Thomas Ikimi and serves as further evidence that this young man is sure to be a source of great films in the near future.
This time he is armed with a stellar cast (Idris Elba is excellent and gives a most harrowing and unique performance), a dedicated crew and far less of the creative restrictions he experienced while making his micro budget first film, Limbo.
This is a dark and tense psychological thriller with a strong focus on the psychology so that the viewer must constantly question themselves throughout the complex plot. We are left often doubting our own conclusions just as quickly as we became certain of them.
I had a few gripes with the casting and thought that Clarke Peters was slightly out of place portraying a covert and deadly Black ops soldier. Also Monique Gabriela Curnen (who nevertheless gives a good performance) didn't quite feel the right choice for her role as Idris' past love interest. It's not all bad though as Eamonn Walker, Joe Holt and Lara Pulver were all excellently cast resulting in some particularly gripping scenes whenever they shared the screen with Idris Elba.
All in all this is a thinking person's film, don't let Idris Elba's all action persona falsely paint your expectations of what this film is about. If you like The Jacket, Jacob's Ladder or Open Your Eyes (Abre los ojos) then you should appreciate and enjoy this film. This Legacy will leave you with questions, but are you sharp enough to decipher the answers?
