What’s It About
A family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Leave the World Behind delves into a captivating premise: What if the United States faced a colossal cyberattack? The exploration of this scenario, with mounting chaos and a lack of information on the ground, holds the audience’s attention throughout. However, the film falls short in its execution, with numerous details, dialogues, character interactions, and pacing coming across as artificial, unbelievable, or disappointing. Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay Sandford (Ethan Hawke) are on vacation, encountering disruptions like an oil tanker grounding at the beach. They end up in a luxurious cabin in the woods, reminiscent of an M. Night Shyamalan-inspired production. The plot turns when G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) arrive late at night, claiming ownership of the property due to power outages and internet issues in the city. The tension rises as the racial dynamics between the two families become symbolic of the broader idea that Americans’ divisions and paranoia make the country vulnerable to attack. While the film successfully builds breathless tension, starting at an intense level leaves little room for escalation. The narrative incorporates elements like C.G. deer, falling satellites, rogue self-driving Teslas, and discussions on racial tensions, climate change, and other societal issues. Despite the efforts of Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali to navigate the complex script, Julia Roberts’ repeated exclamation of “What the fuck?” reflects the audience’s potential frustration. The movie concludes with a baffling ending that offers no clear answers, leaving viewers questioning the film’s resolution and, perhaps, contemplating the world’s end before the credits roll.
OUR RATING – AN APOCALYPTIC 2