A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.
- Awards
- 1 win & 12 nominations total
Alex Barber
- Kid Beachgoer
- (uncredited)
Madison Jessica Bennett
- Kid Beachgoer
- (uncredited)
Sebastian Deerkop
- Beach Goer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Summary
Reviewers say 'Leave the World Behind' delivers a suspenseful experience with standout performances from Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, and striking cinematography. The film's examination of societal themes, like technology dependence and racial tensions, is highlighted, though some find these elements overly pronounced. The ending sparks debate; some commend its ambiguity and realism, while others deem it unsatisfying and abrupt. Despite varied opinions, the film's tension and atmosphere are widely appreciated, making it a compelling, thought-provoking watch.
Featured reviews
I'm happy I didn't listen to the bad reviews here and skipped this movie. It's very well made.
And yes, it raises more questions than it answers, but this is how it would be during an apocalypse or cyber attack. You wouldn't know what's going on and wouldn't trust anyone fully, you could only rely on some bits and pieces of information.
It wasn't boring at all, very engaging actually. The fact that most questions that come to mind when watching it are not answered, leave you thinking about what you would do and even question things in life you take for granted.
This movie is only uncomfortable for those who don't wanna use their imagination and own thoughts and expect a movie to put every answer in their mouths.
I haven't seen such a thought provoking, elegant yet unsettling movie in a long time!
Oh and by the way... the big question everyone has, what's actually going on is answered at the end, just pay attention to the conversation in the car and the computer screen.. It's all there.. What happens after? Well, finally a movie that allows you to use your own thoughts.
And yes, it raises more questions than it answers, but this is how it would be during an apocalypse or cyber attack. You wouldn't know what's going on and wouldn't trust anyone fully, you could only rely on some bits and pieces of information.
It wasn't boring at all, very engaging actually. The fact that most questions that come to mind when watching it are not answered, leave you thinking about what you would do and even question things in life you take for granted.
This movie is only uncomfortable for those who don't wanna use their imagination and own thoughts and expect a movie to put every answer in their mouths.
I haven't seen such a thought provoking, elegant yet unsettling movie in a long time!
Oh and by the way... the big question everyone has, what's actually going on is answered at the end, just pay attention to the conversation in the car and the computer screen.. It's all there.. What happens after? Well, finally a movie that allows you to use your own thoughts.
Started out with lots of promise for a thoughtful, tense thriller. But unfortunately that didn't come to pass. And unfortunately the ending didn't make up for the thin soup we were asked to digest for the previous hour and a half.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
People will cry about the ending, but the ending is the best part of the film. I won't go into details but the ending isn't the ending, it's the beginning. How people can't see that is beyond me.
The film is apocalyptic horror comedy essentially. Also a dive into what makes us human and how we judge others but in reality we're just living in our own delusion. It's very meta and most people won't get it. That's fine.
I really liked the tension, the acting, the score and the comedic break scenes (dancing, etc). The other way this film excels is how it uses exposition. They use character, dialogue and subtleties to slowly bring the plot. It's not for everyone but if you like cinema that's not made to be easily digested, you will like it. Well done! 7.3/10.
The film is apocalyptic horror comedy essentially. Also a dive into what makes us human and how we judge others but in reality we're just living in our own delusion. It's very meta and most people won't get it. That's fine.
I really liked the tension, the acting, the score and the comedic break scenes (dancing, etc). The other way this film excels is how it uses exposition. They use character, dialogue and subtleties to slowly bring the plot. It's not for everyone but if you like cinema that's not made to be easily digested, you will like it. Well done! 7.3/10.
After just a few minutes, we (wife and I) were pulled into the suspense and drama of this movie. For over two hours we followed the tense, taut events with several 'whoa!!' moments.
And then it just ended. With all the effort in building up the complex, intriguing plot, I can see how a definitive ending would be difficult or impossible to create. It felt like rather than make any attempt, they just chose an abrupt, inexplicable stopping point versus an actual ending. Many plot elements were developed and left hanging.
The first two hours I'd rate this an 8 or a 9. The last 10 minutes a 2 at most.
And then it just ended. With all the effort in building up the complex, intriguing plot, I can see how a definitive ending would be difficult or impossible to create. It felt like rather than make any attempt, they just chose an abrupt, inexplicable stopping point versus an actual ending. Many plot elements were developed and left hanging.
The first two hours I'd rate this an 8 or a 9. The last 10 minutes a 2 at most.
Facing the apocalypse in a unique way is not an easy thing to do in movies, but director/screenwriter Sam Esmail takes Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel and turns it into an unrelenting 2023 psychological thriller that captures the current extremist political landscape and isolationist world view with sharp acuity. No one real is explicitly mentioned, but so much of the threat presented in the spiraling plot felt not only relevant but palpable. It starts with a last-minute family vacation in a Long Island mansion and the two strangers who enter their lives. Julia Roberts plays an unapologetically mistrustful woman with familiar conviction, while Ethan Hawke does what he can as her laid-back husband. As the mysterious stranger, Mahershala Ali has to play it close to the vest, while Kevin Bacon has an effective turn late in the story. I could've done without some of the contrived camera angles and predictable music cues, but overall the film got me thinking what I would do under similar circumstances.
Did you know
- TriviaThe picture of the waves in the upper bedroom changes during the movie. The tide is rising. Same applies for the black and white picture in the living room which resembles a changing Rorschach' picture.
- GoofsAiring on the television is the outdated Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). This was an emergency warning system used in the United States from 1963 to 1997, at which point it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System (EAS) which became operational on January 1, 1997.
However, it is against FCC regulations to use the EAS and its related tones in TV and movies. NBCUniversal was fined $530,000 in 2014 for airing an Olympus Has Fallen trailer that used real EAS alerts.
Its likely the movie used the old EBS alerts to get around that issue.
- Quotes
Amanda Sandford: We fuck each other over all the time, without even realizing it. We fuck every living thing on this planet over and think it'll be fine because we use paper straws and order free-range chicken. And the sick thing is, I think deep down we know we're not fooling anyone.
- SoundtracksThe Rev3nge
Written by Joey Bada$$ (as Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott), Powers Pleasant, Sucuki (as Tim Friedrich), Adam Pallin, and Gregor Sperzel
Performed by Joey Bada$$
Courtesy of Pro Era/Cinematic Music Group and Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Dejar el mundo atrás
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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