Leave the World Behind: A Suburban Nightmare Unfolds
The Sandford family, led by Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke), envision a relaxing weekend getaway with their children in a rented Long Island home. However, their idyllic escape quickly turns into a chilling ordeal as communication with the outside world abruptly ceases. Adding to the unease, the homeowners, George (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold), arrive seeking shelter, but remain tight-lipped about the true nature of the unfolding crisis. As the days pass, the characters grapple with the unsettling realization that their familiar world is crumbling, and a cataclysmic event looms on the horizon.
Ethan Hawke as Clay in “Leave the World Behind”
In recent years, Netflix has solidified its position as a purveyor of high-end post-apocalyptic thrillers and horror. From the forced blindness of “Bird Box” to the deadly comet in Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up” and the chemical spill in Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise,” the streaming giant offers a diverse menu of end-of-the-world scenarios. Now, Sam Esmail, the visionary behind “Mr. Robot,” joins the ranks with “Leave the World Behind,” a film that echoes his earlier work with hackers orchestrating societal collapse. While Esmail engages in self-reflection, his stylistic choices inadvertently draw comparisons to M. Night Shyamalan, the master of suspenseful conspiracy narratives. Despite its lofty ambitions, the film ultimately falls short of its potential.
A Vacation Gone Horribly Wrong
Julia Roberts as Amanda in “Leave the World Behind”
Amanda Sandford (Roberts, in a welcome return) openly admits her disdain for people to her husband Clay (Hawke, ever reliable), a college professor. Seeking respite from the city, the privileged family rents a luxurious mansion for the weekend. Accompanied by their children, teenage Archie (Charlie Evans) and “Friends” enthusiast Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), they embark on a journey from which there may be no return. The secluded house soon becomes a refuge in the face of a global crisis: communication networks fail, ships and oil tankers lose control, planes crash, self-driving Teslas veer off course, and ominous flyers in Arabic bearing the message “Death to America” appear. As nature reclaims its territory, curious deer emerge from the woods, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. Amidst the chaos, the homeowners arrive, seeking shelter from the unfolding disaster, but their motives remain unclear.
Mahershala Ali as George in “Leave the World Behind”
Unfulfilled Potential
Based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name, Esmail attempts to paint a prophetic picture of global fragmentation. However, with a bloated runtime of 140 minutes, the film only manages to sketch out a plan of action and internal conflicts, failing to fully realize their potential. Beneath the nauseating camera movements and unsettling soundtrack lies a sterile landscape where the characters’ frantic activity and dialogue are filled with predictable, tiresome moralizing and platitudes that lead to no satisfying resolution. The concept of humanity’s impending doom has long lost its shock value. Even in an apocalyptic era, viewers deserve a well-told and engaging story. Esmail, however, seems unable to offer a second chance, stubbornly echoing his characters’ sentiments: “I don’t like people, and I’ll make everyone suffer (and be confused).”
Julia Roberts as Amanda in “Leave the World Behind”
The film’s setting within the “Mr. Robot” universe (hinted at by a book by one of the series’ antagonists on a bedside table) is no coincidence. Esmail shifts his focus from the hackers to those directly affected by their destructive actions. In his view, humanity is so irredeemable that finding any redeeming qualities, even superficially, is futile. Esmail also falls short of Shyamalan’s mastery, failing to create a compelling mythology of his own. Instead, he relies on archetypes: Roberts as a stereotypical “Karen” with a tearful backstory, Hawke as a pliable, agreeable husband, and Ali, seemingly bored while awaiting the filming of “Blade.”
There is some promise in the younger cast members (from “Industry” star Herrold to future heartthrob Evans). Kevin Bacon makes a brief appearance as a paranoid conspiracy theorist (who blames Koreans or Chinese). As the world crumbles, radiation causes teeth to fall out, and alcohol and records become the only solace. Fortunately, the characters have a bunker where they can not only learn the latest news (the government has fallen) but also watch the final episode of “Friends.” What happens to everyone else is less important; let them wait outside.