Leave The World Behind – A Restrained Psychological Thriller

Pop culture has seen the world come to an end in countless different ways, both big and small, across film and television. There’s an inherent sense of tension that comes with seeing the world come to an end. Often laying it too strong through gratuitous displays of chaos and destruction, while admittedly entertaining at times, any intended message gets lost. It’s easy to disassociate with whatever happens on screen because there are hardly any impact on a human level. Leave The World Behind, based on the book of the same name by Rumaan Alam, pulls all of that back to great effect in creating an incredibly tense, slow burn psychological thriller that leaves audiences feeling paranoid and guessing as the world seemingly crumbles around them. Its foundation begins with a strong cast, featuring the likes of Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke, and simply builds the tension around them. Supporting that atmosphere was some impressive sound work and a solid thematic score.

Looking to disconnect from others and their hectic lives in New York City, Leave The World Behind saw Amanda (Roberts) and Clay Sandford (Hawke) rent a secluded luxurious house for a weekend vacation with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Relishing their new surroundings, things quickly didn’t seem that right but that was only the beginning of their problems. In the middle of the night, they would be joined by two strangers, including a man named G.H. (Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la), seeking refuge in their house which they claimed was theirs, following a mysterious cyberattack affecting much of the world. Essentially isolated within the confines of this vacation home, the fear of the unknown and what could potentially happen next, assuming what was allegedly happening was true and not just a series of coincidences, had both families on edge. As they were left trying to reconcile with whatever was happening, it was also clear that there was something more going on besides the fact that their claim to the house wasn’t a sure thing either.

Focusing on a human centric story, the film does a great job at pulling audiences into the paranoia of its characters which only got worse as the situation around them evolved (or devolved). That brewing drama and tension took place both inside and outside the house. Crisis has a way to bring people together but, in this case, both families needed to find a way to coexist and work together to get through whatever was happening. Much of the drama had characters seeking to find their place in the world, and the resulting themes and commentary wasn’t exactly the most subtle. However, having them forced to navigate a changing landscape, that kept them on edge through moments and set pieces lifted by its impressive sound design and score, was compelling to watch as they got closer to discovering the extent of what was really going on. A slow burn, it does take some time to build up its tension which perhaps contributes to its slightly overlong running time. Meanwhile, showing restraint by leaving its characters and audiences mostly in the dark proved to be the right one (though many may not see it that way).

Outside of creating tension, the film’s underlying message also wasn’t the most subtle, opting to go for something beyond mere chaos and destruction. That being said, the climax was still a very satisfying one. In the end, Leave The World Behind would not have worked if not for the foundation created by strong performances across the board. Featuring big names like Roberts, Ali, Hawke, and Kevin Bacon in a small supporting role, they all bring their respective charm and presence and deliver stellar performances. Elevating the script, the film is truly an ensemble piece, along with Myha’la, Evans, and Mackenzie as Ruth, Archie, and Rose. Roberts and Ali going toe-to-toe, as Amanda and G.H., is easily the best part of the film. The linchpins of the plot, they had the most at stake and saw the most growth while they led each of their families. Hawke and Myha’la were essentially stabilizing forces to the other two, with each having several chances to stand out on their own. The latter, in particular, is a scene-stealer who more than held her own up against the cast’s big names thanks to her youthful energy.

At the end of the day, Leave The World Behind is an excellent psychological thriller whose lack of subtly is made up for by stellar performances and impressive sound design.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.