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Leave the World Behind
2023 140 min United States of America R 12+
★6.6
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director: Sam Esmail
🎭 Based on
«Leave the World Behind»
byRumaan Alam
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
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.
Starring
Julia Roberts
Actor
Mahershala Ali
Actor
Ethan Hawke
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 16 nominations total
Key opinion
Leave the World Behind is an atmospheric and stylish apocalyptic thriller that generates significant tension through its craft, even as it struggles with narrative cohesion. While the film is anchored by strong performances from its lead cast, it leaves many viewers frustrated by an ambiguous, unresolved conclusion and inconsistent pacing.
| Acting | The ensemble cast, led by Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, delivers powerful and compelling performances. | |
| Cinematography | Todd Campbell’s cinematography utilizes virtuoso camera work to effectively heighten the film’s sense of unease and paranoia. | |
| Pacing | The film’s pacing is a subject of debate: some viewers find the slow, contemplative build-up essential to the atmosphere, while others perceive it as sluggish and overly long. | |
| Score | The score is highly divisive, with some praising its ability to maintain suspense and others finding it heavy-handed, flat, or distractingly intrusive. | |
| Ending | The ending is widely polarizing, as many viewers feel it fails to provide necessary closure or resolve the story's central mysteries. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are split between those who value its sharp, allegorical social critique and those who find the dialogue repetitive and the character motivations unconvincing. |