Summary
In 2023, Sam Esmail, who is known for his work on Mr. Robot, released a new film titled Leave the World Behind, which has been described as a psychological thriller. The movie is based on a novel by bestselling author Rumaan Alam and explores disturbing themes of contemporary anxiety, social disintegration, and the search for interpersonal bonds amidst uncertainties. The film’s cast comprises well-known faces, such as Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la Herrold, who magnify the plot which is unsettling, mysterious, and thought-provoking, keeping viewers on the edge with a slow but intense build-up to an existential climax.
It all starts with Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts), a New Yorker who is more cynical than pragmatic, booking a weekend trip to a lavish vacation home in Long Island, hoping it would serve as a worthy getaway for her family, which includes her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and their teenage children Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Her plan is for the family to unplug from the fast-paced life they are used to, which in turn would help them recharge.
Primarily, everything goes alright. The family seems to have endless things to do while enjoying themselves, including appreciating nature’s goodness and the luxuries that comes with using the rented house as well as spending time together, which is a rare luxury in the modern world. But, as it turns out, the family is anything but lucky, as they receive a visit from unwelcomed guests, who arrive at the most inconvenient time, during the night.
They are met by G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) who assert that they are the proprietors of the estate. They explain to Amanda and Clay that there is an unexpected and inexplicable blackout across New York City, and they have fled to the house seeking safety. Without access to cellphone coverage, the internet, or television, the Sandfords are stranded—literally and metaphorically—wondering whether these strangers are trustworthy or menacing.
What comes next is an intensity of psychological conflict, as uncertainty begins to creep into every single encounter. Amanda, more guarded, distrusts the motives of G.H. and Ruth. Who are they? Are they crisis opportunists assuming a disaster position? Better-natured Clay attempts to mediate the conflict but has to agree with the overwhelming feelings of fear.
Signs that a greater catastrophe is imminent begin to show with every passing day. Mysterious booms shake the ground, causing planes to halt in the sky, while flocks of birds go completely nuts. The lack of specific information adds to the growing contempt. The film utilizes this lack of clarity to create a world where ignorance becomes the biggest threat.
In the midst of external mayhem, the internal relations of the characters becomes even more complicated. Amanda’s distrust towards Ruth combined with her motherly instincts creates a type of tension that is both personal and collective. Meanwhile, G.H. tries to provide calm and rational explanations while trying to maintain an uneasy peacebetween the two families. In his head, he remains the wisest calm member able to smoothen things over.
As the resources become more and more scarce, and their environment grows painfully claustrophobic, the families must confront not only the surroundings of the strange disaster, but also their own, already daunting preconceived stereotypes, phobias, and troubling weaknesses. In this sense, Leave the World Behind is more than just a thriller. It artfully tackles issues of modern life such as social divide alongside racial conflicts, economic inequality, and the vulnerability of today’s comforts, turning the novel into a profound insight of humanity under extreme pressure.
The film reaches a climactic point featuring an overwhelming degree of anxiety, including concerning plot points that involve not only the external crises, but also more intimate character revelations. Even so, the film does not shy away from its psychological basis. Rather than straightforwardly tying up loose ends, the film remains true to its nature by making its audience wrestle with uncomfortable notions of uncertainty regarding how our reality and society is held together by delicate threads.
Leave the World Behind cast and crew
The movie Leave the World Behind has gained international attention due to its impressive cast and unforgettable direction.
Julia Roberts as Amanda Sandford: Roberts captures the attitude of the skeptical and cautious mother who oscillates between her survival instincts, and wariness. Roberts depicts Amanda’s emotional volatility exquisitely and with clarity evoking both her independence and vulnerability.
Ethan Hawke as Clay Sandford: Hawke captures the character of Clay, Amanda’s husband with a more upbeat perspective. Hawke’s portrayal adds depth to the character, weaving together quiet rationale and rising concern.
Mahershala Ali as G.H. Scott: Ali brings reserved authority figure G.H to life, delivering controlled gravity. His performance perfectly encapsulates a man attempting to manage a complicated reality while navigating a multitude of fears.
Myha’la Herrold as Ruth Scott: Herrold gives life to G.H.’s daughter as the defiant tween daughter, Ruth. She eloquently displays the young people’s frustration in the thick of a crisis, as well as the hardened skepticism that equips one to endure.
Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans play amanda and clay’s kids, Rose and Archie, completing the central family unit and adding emotional engagement to the film.
Director:
Homecoming and Mr. Robot showcased Sam Esmail’s masterful direction, but his work on “Leave The World Behind” proves that he is capable of even more. Each of Esmail’s features brought a close look at carefully woven suspense and slow-burn psychological thrill, and true to form, Esmail delivers on all fronts. Master of dread, the director once again does not fail to elicit a sense of claustrophobic yet expansive overwhelming horror using the careful crafting of atmosphere over sheer spectacle.
Screenplay:
The cinematographic elements of this film start with Esmail himself, who also composed the screenplay alongside the direction. Esmail brings cinematic flair to Rumaan Alam’s novel while adopting it with omitting some themes that would have shattered the essence of it. Just as in the novel, he maintains the ambiguity in the story with a masterful touch on presenting a sense of disaster that appears incomprehensible to the viewer.
Cinematography and production design:
The eerie cinematography by Tod Campbell completes the surrealistic feel of the novel using quiet and empty scenery. The production design encapsulates every sense of duality by portraying the house as both safe haven and a cluttered prison in alignment with the shifting power dynamics throughout the movie.
Music:
Light eerie melodies fuse with supernatural elements and draw attention to Mac Quayle as the backbone of the movie’s score. Once again aesthetics and psychology flawlessly blend effortlessly with tension with Quayle’s minimalistic compositions, building unease without crashing the narrative flow.
IMDb ratings:
Leave the World Behind holds an IMDb rating of 6.5 based on critics spectacles and reviews. As expected, and alongside the heart rendering performances from the cast, and overwhelming storytelling that many expect in today’s movies, the film did not hold back during the onslaught of criticism focused on the counter themes it presented. With the powerful but unclear ending and slow pace, viewers were brutally divided.
Those who appreciated the film enjoyed its reasoning which considering human behavior under pressure that was unlike any typical disaster movie. Fans of psychological thrillers felt the focus on the characters alongside the story’s realm of tensions was the most appealing aspect of the film.
Some viewers expecting a fast-paced apocalypse thriller were taken aback by the calm tempo and emphasis on mood rather than action. Although this remains a critique among other considerations, there is consensus that Leave the World Behind provides a unique, very deep consideration on that sub-genre.
As argued throughout this analysis, Leave the World Behind is a skillfully crafted, haunting thriller that poses the question of what might happen when the audiences confront the unknown. The world is tense; consummate performances and direction blur the lines between trust, fracture, surviving, and civilization. It becomes radical content for analysis. It is further reinforced by the overwhelming reality of social order and its destruction adds impact to the vivid portrayal of violence. This film is profound work for those interested with tensions deeply planted within a cerebral character plot intertwined with social commentary.
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