featuring @lunapalacecinemas @madmanfilms @zzzpepp
Birthright is a wickedly sharp, darkly hilarious gem that had me laughing through my discomfort and nodding along in painful recognition. Judging by the gasps of the cinema crowd they were in the same boat. Directed by Zoe Pepper in her feature debut, this Australian black comedy turns the nightmare of adult children moving back home into a wildly entertaining powder keg of generational tension, housing crisis satire, and family dysfunction.
The story follows Cory (Travis Jeffery) and his very pregnant wife Jasmine (Maria Angelico), who, after being evicted and facing job loss in a brutal economy, reluctantly move in with Cory’s well-off boomer parents, Richard (Michael Hurst) and Lyn (Linda Cropper). What starts as a temporary solution quickly spirals as the parents grow increasingly anxious about their son never leaving, while Cory becomes desperate to prove himself—leading to increasingly unhinged decisions and a family dynamic that detonates in spectacular fashion.
What makes Birthright so effective is how brilliantly it balances relatable realism with escalating absurdity. The film nails the awkwardness of intergenerational living: the passive-aggressive comments about “back in my day,” the clashing values around work, wealth, and homeownership, and that suffocating feeling when your personal failures are under the same roof as your parents’ success. Pepper’s script is razor-sharp, turning everyday domestic irritations into laugh-out-loud moments while building an undercurrent of menace that keeps you hooked.
The entire cast is phenomenal. Travis Jeffery brings a perfect mix of frustration, vulnerability, and spiraling determination to Cory. Maria Angelico grounds the film with warmth and strength as Jasmine. Michael Hurst and Linda Cropper are absolutely hilarious and chilling as the parents—delivering performances that make you both cringe and cackle at their oblivious entitlement and simmering resentment.
If you love smart, over-the-top-yet-grounded comedies that mix Hereditary-style family horror vibes with Meet the Parents chaos, Birthright is an absolute must-watch. It’s one of the most entertaining and biting films I’ve seen recently—proof that sometimes going home really is hell.
Screening at Luna Leederville and Luna on SX now.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
