DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
“I want the camera to be a witness, not a participant.”
​Inherent is a ghost story told in a whisper. It doesn’t scream—it listens. I wrote this film with an emotional temperature that never rises above a breath until it absolutely has to. Every frame is designed to observe, to hold still, and to let dread unfold on its own terms.
The DNA of this film draws from the restrained elegance of The Ring and the psychological precision of Psycho. I don’t want the camera to chase fear—it should witness it. Still frames, natural light, and silence are my tools. I believe in holding a shot until it breaks under its own weight—never rushing tension, only shaping it.
But what truly grounds the film—what makes it live and breathe—are the performances. My focus is always on the actor: the internal shifts, the unsaid grief, the quiet unraveling. I want to give actors space to feel, not just perform. Horror is more affecting when we believe the person, not just the situation.
This story is personal. Evelyn’s fear of abandonment mirrors my own. Growing up without parental guidance felt like a haunting—and in Inherent, that absence becomes the source of the horror. It’s not just ghosts—it’s what we carry when we’ve been left behind.
This isn’t just a horror story—it’s a human one. And I want every frame to reflect that.
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“Inherent is a ghost story whispered through stillness. I wrote it to explore the aftershocks of abandonment, grief, and obsession—where supernatural forces mirror the trauma we bury. My direction favors silence over spectacle. The camera doesn’t chase emotion—it observes it. Each scene is designed to unfold with restraint, tension, and truth.”
FILMMAKER
Shrunal Tembhurne knows that success is built on hard work and mastery of craft. Originally from Mumbai, India, his passion for the arts began early. After completing his primary and higher secondary education in Nagpur, he discovered a deep love for sketching, painting, and visual storytelling.
He went on to study at the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Metal Art, specializing in design, form composition, and 3D modeling. His work earned him back-to-back state awards for excellence in metal sculpture.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Shrunal ran a successful event management company. His commitment to creative growth was recognized when he received a full scholarship from the Indian Government Foreign Studies Scholarship Program to pursue filmmaking abroad.
He completed his MFA in Filmmaking in Los Angeles, where he has since written, directed, and produced six short films and collaborated on numerous others. His feature directorial debut, INHERENT, is a psychological horror rooted in character and emotional tension — the culmination of his artistic journey so far.
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