Leave the World Behind (2023) - Review
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© Jojo Whilden / NETFLIX
Directed by: Sam Esmail
Written by: Sam Esmail
Starring: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans, Kevin Bacon
Runtime: 141 min
Synopsis: In this apocalyptic thriller, Amanda and her husband Clay rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie and Rose. Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers - G.H. and his daughter Ruth - arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs. The two families reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.
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Editor's Note: Original review was written for FandomWire. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Leave the World Behind intricately intertwines Sam Esmail's directorial finesse with Rumaan Alam's thought-provoking source material, delivering a compelling exploration of familial dynamics, societal issues, and the impact of fear and uncertainty on human behavior. While Esmail's adaptation steers towards a more straightforward apocalyptic thriller, it retains thematic depth, as the layered characters, portrayed by a stellar ensemble cast with Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali as brilliant standouts, serve as compelling conduits for these themes, offering nuanced reflections on contemporary society. Exquisite cinematography and a pulsating score contribute to a tense, immersive experience, despite occasionally distracting camera work, minor pacing issues, and repetitive narrative elements. In the end, it's a profoundly interesting cautionary tale that everyone should see before the year's end.
