Leave the World Behind – Film Review
Published December 19, 2023
Movie Details
Sam Esmail’s cinematic adaptation of Rumaan Alam‘s novel, Leave the World Behind, comes with much anticipation. A promising mix of a psychological thriller and a terrifying apocalyptic narrative starring a stellar ensemble of acclaimed actors; one would assume it would be an immersive rollercoaster ride of drama, suspense and emotion. Regrettably, it fails to meet the anticipation and delivers an ultimately fragmented narrative which lacks necessary character development, underutilizing a potent pool of talent.
Set amidst the mysterious backdrop of technology failure, the plot manages to strike the right chord initially. The tone of inexplicable uncertainty coupled with underlying dread succeeds in arresting the viewer’s interest. As the story progresses, the intrigue starts fading away. Instead of working on fleshing out the storyline with interesting plot twists or unexpected revelations, the narrative gives away to cliched predictability.
Performance wise, all actors give their best to make up for the narrative shortcomings. Julia Roberts’ portrayal of Amanda is relatable, eliciting empathy with her stoic resilience and vulnerable insecurities. Mahershala Ali also impresses as G.H. Scott, an initial figure of suspicion who later becomes a reliable support for the family. Unfortunately, the brilliant potential of their characters seems dampened due to a half-baked script.
Ali’s character in particular feels noticeably unexplored. Despite hints at a complex backstory and possible sinister intentions, the character is never fleshed out and becomes increasingly sidelined as the film progresses. The other cast members also share the same fate, providing tantalising snippets of their characters without giving any real depth. The father-son relationship between Ethan Hawke’s Clay and his son Archie offers an excellent opportunity for emotional development and poignancy, but remains woefully underexplored.
Also, the strange visual decisions don’t really add to the suspense but merely distracts the viewer. The poorly executed depiction of the scene where New York City is bombed falls into the latter category. One expects such climactic events to hit with devastating impact, instead the execution appears so underwhelming, it undermines the severity of the situation. The end, while intended to evoke shock and horror, rather appears abrupt and puzzling.
Esmail does capture some of the creeping dread and uncertainty characteristic of an impending apocalypse well. Moments of intrigue are offered, with mysterious events such as Archie’s inexplicably falling teeth, but unfortunately these are quickly buried under the plot’s need to proceed rapidly. The repeated mysterious shrills never explained is a noteworthy example of such missed opportunities.
On the technical front, cinematography and sound design do succeed in setting a moody, uneasy ambiance appropriate for the apocalyptic narrative. However, it is hard not to feel the palpable sense of waste in witnessing such talent fail to realize its potential due to a hurried, uneven screenplay.
Leave the World Behind, is a frustratingly flawed thriller which leaves behind a wake of underdeveloped characters, inconsistent plot development, and squandered opportunities. Despite stellar performances and a promising premise, it proves to be a disappointment.