There are movies I have high hopes for, especially one where the cast are A-list actors, only to be disappointed after watching. When the final credits rolled, I thought how do I get back this two hours and twenty minutes of my life. If you wish to see this movie, it's best to go in blind.
Leave The World Behind (2023) is a Netflix original film written and directed by Sam Esmail based on novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. It is an apocalyptic psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, Kevin Bacon and other actors.
We meet Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) who decides to go on a weekend vacation with her family. She wants a break from the world in a place that's off-grid. As they settle into their vacation home, a strange blackout happens which cuts off their TV and internet. Rather than stay indoors, they go to the beach and something unexpected happens. An oil tanker loses control and crashes into the beach.
The Sandfords return to their vacation place where the owner of the house, G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter, Ruth Scott (Myha'la) appears, asking to stay with them because there's a power outage in the city. Amanda doesn't trust them but her husband, Clay (Ethan Hawke), believes and allows them to stay. Not long, they watch an emergency alert on the TV saying there had been a large-scale cyberattack affecting the country. Who is behind this attack? Could this be the end of the world? Are the Sandfords safe?
My Review And Rating
I enjoy apocalyptic thrillers and expected more from this movie considering the high caliber cast but was disappointed. The plot is good and straightforward but I feel Sam Esmail didn't put much effort into the screenplay. He doesn't give this movie a proper and satisfying ending and there are subplots he didn't fully explore. The storytelling is not well done and I wondered halfway through what direction the movie was taking us.
The story has the potential of being a thrilling apocalyptic sci-fi featuring alien invasion, biblical and pandemic apocalypse. Sadly, none of these themes were explored. Instead it plays out like a conspiracy theory come to life. The pace is slow, the signs of societal collapse (well the American society) begins in bits, and then grows into a power outage and technology going awry.
The tension builds well with good suspense but halfway through, they lost me because subplots were introduced but left hanging and then they wrap up the story hurriedly as if the screenplay writer got tired of writing or they lost the initial ending and had to scramble something else.
Also, this movie is set in an apocalyptic period, where unsettling things happen, so viewers would expect a lot of emotionally charged scenes. Instead Sam Esmail writes and directs the narrative to be distant without some emotional landing.
The cast's performance is amazing regardless of the storyline. Julia Roberts is one of the best actors in the industry and she played her role as a misanthrope very well. She also portrays some racial tension in the way she relates with G.H Scott and Ruth, sometimes elevating her children's desires above that of Ruth's. At a point, I was almost irritated with her then remembered it's all an act. Her character is bold, outspoken and self-centred unlike Ethan Hawke's Clay who is like the cool guy.
The cinematography is well done and stylish. The visuals are seamless, the camera angles and editing are done in a way that enhances the tension. I don't fault this aspect of the movie.
Rating this movie, I'd give it 5 stars out of 10. It's a fine one but I expected more because of the cast. The screenplay of a film matters and how the director steers the storytelling determines how success of the movie.
All images above are from here
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