This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 279! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey friends!
So, I just watched “Leave the World Behind,” and I gotta say… I have some thoughtsss. It felt like one of those times you’re super pumped for a party, and the vibe’s lit, but then, like, it suddenly turns into a BYOB event, and you’re left with your sad, lonely can of soda. Okay, weird analogy, I know, but stick with me!
First off, shoutout to Sam Esmail, the dude behind the camera, who also did “Mr. Robot.” That show? Freaking genius. Now, the movie had me SO hooked at the beginning. The tension? OH, YOU COULD TASTE IT. Imagine dipping your fries into that suspense sauce, and it’s like, Grade-A stuff.
Starring the always-amazing Julia Roberts and the ever-so-charismatic Ethan Hawke, “Leave the World Behind” throws us into the lives of two families whose peaceful vacation takes a dark turn. Outta the blue, a blackout hits the city taking down cell service, electricity, phones and navigation systems — and chaos is bubbling under the surface. Hype? Check. Mysterious events, strange, ear-splitting noises, unexplained power outages – it all starts off like a classic thriller, with that eerie feeling of something sinister lurking just beneath the surface.
And then – BAM! two these strangers appear at their vacation rental doorstep. Enter G.H. (Mahershala Ali – YES, him from “Moonlight”) and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la), claiming the house is theirs. What would you do? I’d probably pee my pants!
The film does a fantastic job building tension in the first half. I mean, I was on the edge of my seat, clutching my blanket, and wondering what was going to happen next. Roberts and Hawke are brilliant, as always, delivering nuanced performances that capture the fear and uncertainty of their characters. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable, making their interactions both captivating and believable.
I’ve got to say, folks, the acting is pretty on point. Roberts nails that mix of distrust and obligatory politeness. Hawke, meanwhile, has this under-the-surface tension that’s like, “Oooh, something’s about to blow!” And Mahershala Ali? He’s always mesmerizing, like watching a cat stalking a laser pointer.
But then—wait for it—the movie just kinda… stops. It’s like it was building up to a grand finale and then just… gave up. I’m talking, the buildup is there – you’re white-knuckling your popcorn – and suddenly, the movie forgets how to movie. Don’t you just hate that? We’re left dangling, and not in a cool cliffhanger way. More like someone hit pause and forgot to ever hit play again.
Like, the film spends AGES building atmospheric stress, leaning hard into the mystery. Everyone’s on edge, getting super paranoid. The forest around them is unnervingly quiet, and the unease is so thick you could spread it on toast. You’re waiting for the reveal, the “OH SNAP!” moment. But it never goes anywhere. Honestly, it’s that classic “so close, yet so far” situation. There’s no real resolution, no satisfying explanation for the strange events. It’s as if the filmmakers got lost in their own suspenseful maze and couldn’t find the exit.
One of the most frustrating things about “Leave the World Behind” is that it raises so many questions but answers none of them. What caused the strange events? Who (or what) was responsible? And what happened to the characters in the end? We’re left hanging, with a sense of unfulfillment that’s hard to shake.
I was genuinely disappointed in this one. Kinda like expecting fireworks and getting sparklers. Dude, give us the big BOOM!
So yeah, “Leave the World Behind” had the bones of a great thriller but just didn’t know what to do with them. A+ for atmosphere and acting, but man, it left me bobbing like a cork in the ocean of unfinished plots.Ultimately, this film falls short of its potential. It’s like a puzzle with missing pieces, a story with no ending.
But if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and don’t mind an ambiguous ending, then give it a spin. Maybe you’ll find hidden depths I missed, or maybe you’ll join me in the “whyyy did it end there?” club.
Cheers!
Roger