Leave the World Behind

Last month, I reviewed Eli Roth’s giddy gorefest THANKSGIVING. It was violent, grotesque, over-the-top, and guiltily enjoyable. As straight forward as they come, there is no possible genre it could have been categorized other than horror. This month, I watched a film that was far more terrifying than anything I saw in Roth’s slasher flick.  It wasn’t packed with violence or blood, but instead relied on real-life terror that left me uneasy and genuinely discomforted. I suppose it would be considered a thriller if we were going to throw a label on it, but it was as chilling as anything you’d see in the horror genre.  

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND would have been disconcerting no matter what, but it was made all-the-more unnerving by the fact that Barack and Michelle Obama are listed as producers. Seeing their name attached to the project will cause some to form opinions without watching a single second of the movie itself, but I have admit, their participation makes the subject matter far more unnerving. 

Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) is tired of the daily grind. Not only that, but she just really hates people in general. On a whim, she books a rental house for her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and their two children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans).  Rose is only concerned with finishing the final season of FRIENDS on her iPad, while the rest of the family seems content escaping the city.

The Sandfords arrive at the beautiful home and are instantly at ease. The kids love the pool, and the parents adore the peace and quiet. As the day progresses, there are some mild disturbances in the connectivity of their devices, but nothing to be concerned about. It isn’t until night falls that major disruptions occur, and there is suddenly a knock on the door. Standing outside are G. H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth Scott (Myah’la Herrold) who awkwardly apologize for the intrusion. They claim to be a father-daughter tandem and the owners of the home. They were originally going to stay in the city, but a blackout made it impossible, and they came back to their country home. Eternal pessimist Amanda is suspicious of the duo, whereas college professor Clay seems far more content to buy their story.  

Written and directed by Sam Esmail (based on the novel written by Rumaan Alam) LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND certainly is similar in tone and style to the filmmakers excellent television series MR. ROBOT. It is a world of swooping camera angles, well placed music, and technology-based terror. Unlike THANKSGIVING and its mask-wearing butcher carving up his adversaries, Esmail’s monster is human nature itself. A society so reliant on technology and digital communication that at the earliest signs of trouble, it immediately begins to crumble. By the time the final act comes, it is pretty apparent that things are not likely to end well. Speeches are given, judgements are made, and jarring visuals are abound.

Esmail’s script is heavy-handed at times, and while there are a few profound statements and observations, it can also be a little over-the-top. Having enjoyed the entire run of MR. ROBOT, I didn’t expect anything else, and I didn’t think that it took away from the film. The performances by the relatively small cast are all excellent, with Ali giving a particularly powerful turn. He exudes an air of unflappability while trying to navigate the end of days, staying strong as a father while also trying to remain honorable as a host and a man. A scene he shares with Hawke and the spectacular Kevin Bacon towards the end of the film serves as one of the highlights of the entire production. 

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND is terrifying in a way that most films are not. It plays on realistic fears and a seemingly plausible situation to get under your skin and leave you thinking for days. The tension builds slowly, beginning as a somewhat of a mystery until it dissolves into an all-too-believable scenario. Whether it is a warning or a “what-if,” it isn’t the type of movie you will forget any time soon. 

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND:  B+

Now streaming on Netflix

Brian Miller