Netflix’s Leave the World Behind Movie Review: Julia Roberts & Mahershala Ali apocalyptic thriller lacks soul

Language –  English

Director – Sam Esmail

Cast – Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la Herrold, Kevin Bacon

Netflix’s Leave the World Behind movie could have been much more than just an apocalyptic thriller. It talks about racial tensions, human relations and how some people find it difficult to trust others.We all love to take breaks and run away from our day to day mundane life. And that’s how Amanda (Julia Roberts) landed up with her family on a holiday to a beach cottage far away from the city.

Directed by Sam Esmail, Leave the World Behind shows Amanda, the lady of the house and the mother of two kids who works in the client servicing department of an ad agency, is tired of her work life and wants a break. She is definitely not a people’s person and far away from being a people pleaser. Amanda doesn’t mince words and she very clearly says, “I f***ing hate people.” Now that is a very urban problem. We hate each other so much that the first thing that comes to our mind is suspicion even when someone is trying hard to help you out.

Ethan Hawke plays the role of Clay, Amanda’s husband and they have two children, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Once they reach their beach house, the world behind them falls apart. Nature from the very beginning was trying to give them signals which they ignored except for Rose, Amanda’s daughter. But her family members didn’t pay much attention to it. The signs or rather the portents included the family spotting deer in the garden of the beach house. Amanda again bumps into a guy at the supermarket who was seen literally hoarding supplies as if there is no tomorrow. And when the family visits the beach they spot a massive oil tanker. Initially they were amused, but the tanker was seen crashes on the shore leaving the people on the beach horrified.

In the thick of that very night, there is black man and her daughter who knocks at the door. He (Mahershala Ali) claims that he lives in the city and that he is the owner of the cottage where Amanda’s family are holidaying there. And that they would like to spend the night there since there is a backout in the city. It soon becomes clear that it is more than just blackout.  Amanda is suspicious and isn’t convinced and asks him for ID proof.

Based on Rumaan Alam’s novel Leave the World Behind, but the film is no way close to the original writing. In fact, Julia Robert’s movie Leave the World Behind is far from convincing. The look of the film is good and is well-made, but in many places it lacks engagement of the actors. You are trying to show us fear, but we aren’t scared anymore is my reaction to the film. It’s like observing some kind of drama on screen without being able to participate and feel the pulse of the actors in the film. When talking about the racial tensions between the two families, the movie fails to show any emotions which are relatable.  On the whole, the movie lacks a soul.

Rating: 3 out of 5