Audiences have been treated with many stories of the impending doom of the apocalypse. It’s hard to find a fresh angle on these stories because so many of them have been explored but director/screenwriter/producer Sam Esmail has done just that with Leave the World Behind, based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. The film, which had its world premiere at AFI Fest, is a riveting take on the apocalyptic drama that displays all of the conflicting human emotions that would be present should a situation like this arise while also not shying away from the unwavering chaos that would make the notion of the end of the world completely terrifying.
The film centers on Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke), a couple that decides to throw caution to the wind and go on an impromptu vacation from their New York home with their two children. It’s clear that they have spent a lot of time stressing about their jobs and they need some time away from all of the noise. The destination is Point Comfort in Long Island and all seems to be going smoothly until the arrival of a man named G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali). Scott has rented the couple the property for the weekend but he claims that a blackout has knocked out all of the power in the city and asks if he and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) can take refuge in the basement. This is only the start of the craziness that is about to ensue. Internet and cell phone service is down and there are no real updates as to why all of these things are happening. To reveal more would be a disservice to the viewing experience.
It’s hard to discuss specific plot points of the film because to learn too much ahead of seeing it would strip the movie of some of its power. Esmail does a stellar job of establishing a sense of dread and uncertainty. The audience is aware that SOMETHING is amiss but, much like the characters, the viewer is unraveling the mystery in real time and doesn’t quite know what is exactly happening. Esmail’s script also does a superb job of putting the viewer in the situation with the characters which then elicits a lot of questions about our own human nature in the face of the world dismantling around us.
The story is told in five riveting chapters across its runtime, beginning with “The House.” Amanda and Clay are your typical all-American couple which makes them instantly relatable and the perfect personalities to be thrown into such an impossible situation. It also makes some uncomfortable questions about judgment and class come into play. For instance, when G.H. arrives at the house and explains the situation about the blackout, Clay is readily receptive to their desire to stay with them. Amanda on the other hand asks more pointed questions that come off as pretty questionable once you consider G.H.’s race. While you can argue that she’s being careful, the script hints at an uneasiness on her part because she’s not completely accustomed to the people involved.
Shades of The Mist came to mind while watching Leave the World Behind. In that film, townspeople are trapped in a supermarket as a mysterious fog riddled with creatures begins to invade. The monsters on the outside should be the scariest obstacles but soon the varying beliefs and intentions of those inside become the true enemy. Sometimes the dark side of human nature can emerge when we’re faced with impossible odds. This film also tackles similar themes. Essentially the two families have to band together in order to help each other but they also lack any real common ground except they are stuck together. There is no real trust there and since there is a lack of trust, the true colors of all involved begin to take shape, and sometimes that reality isn’t all that pretty. The beauty of a story like this is that some of the reactions are profoundly realistic as most of us would balance teamwork to reach a positive outcome until it became clear that self-preservation was absolutely necessary.
While the apocalyptic angle is always intriguing, most of the film’s gripping moments come courtesy of the characters and the actors portraying them. Despite the epic scale of the world potentially ending, a lot of the movie is intimate much like a stageplay because it’s working with a limited amount of characters. Stealing the show is Ali, who is playing a role that was once intended for Denzel Washington. Much like Washington, Ali has the presence and power necessary for the role but he also displays a great sense of warmth. He has an unwavering view of the world and there is nothing that will make him doubt how it all works.
Roberts has a difficult role to play here because, while seeming nice on the surface, there is something inside her that is decidedly unlikable. One might label her a “Karen”, walking around with a sense of entitlement not afforded to the other characters who are seeking shelter at the home they rented. The film walks a fine line with her until it becomes very clear who she really is, which becomes more obvious in her interactions with G.H.’s daughter, Ruth. Roberts and Myha’la play off each other very well with the former’s growing brashness juxtaposed with the latter’s acute awareness of who Amanda really is as a person. Roberts doesn’t always play someone so hard (she once expertly played coldness in 2004’s superb Closer) so it’s refreshing to see her play a bit against type.
Hawke’s portrayal of Clay is about as opposite as you can get from Roberts’ depiction of Amanda. He’s more carefree and positive, a man who doesn’t question much and might ask questions later. You get a sense of the relationship when the notion of the vacation is brought up. It’s not a mutual decision to go. Amanda essentially TELLS him they’re going as the bags are already packed. His masculinity is tested in a moment with Kevin Bacon, who has a small role as a man named Danny. The two shades of who they are as men come to a head during a very tense scene that is one of the film’s best.
Leave the World Behind tackles big ideas and succeeds because the story is very relevant and all too real. Should an event like this happen, there would be a lot of misinformation and the start of the blame game as to why this is all happening. The movie is likely to make viewers engage in some deeper conversations that are largely absent from most disaster movie fare and that’s because the focus is always on the characters and the story. The end of the world is something we would have no control over but we could have control over our human nature and natural impulses.
Leave The World Behind held its World Premiere as part of the Red Carpet Premieres section at AFI Fest 2023. It is currently expected to debut in select theaters on November 22, 2023, before debuting on Netflix on December 8th.
Director: Sam Esmail
Writer: Sam Esmail
Rated: R
Runtime: 138m
Leave the World Behind tackles big ideas and succeeds because the story is very relevant and all too real. Should an event like this happen, there would be a lot of misinformation and the start of the blame game as to why this is all happening. The movie is likely to make viewers engage in some deeper conversations that are largely absent from most disaster movie fare and that's because the focus is always on the characters and the story. The end of the world is something we would have no control over but we could have control over our human nature and natural impulses.
-
GVN Rating
Hello! My name is Gaius Bolling: movie, TV, and pop culture junkie! The industry has been in my veins since I was a kid and I have carried that on through adulthood. I attended Los Angeles Film Academy and participated in their screenwriting and editing program. From there, I have learned to hone my skills in the world of entertainment journalism. Some of my favorite genres include horror, action, and drama and I hope to share my love of all of this with you.
