With another week in the books soon and a Friday night to enjoy and relax, a movie is always a great option. If you can’t find a good movie, we highly recommend watching Leave the World Behind, which is streaming on Netflix now. From start to finish, you will not be disappointed.
What is the movie about?
“Leave the World Behind” is a psychological thriller that dismantles the tranquility of a family vacation. While relaxing in their high-end Long Island rental, things take a turn for the Sandford family when two strangers arrive at the doorstep. These unexpected visitors claim ownership of the house and reveal a mysterious event has forced them to seek refuge. With no way to contact the outside world and verify the strangers’ story, suspicion and tension escalate between the two families.
The cast and themes
The movie stars Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke as the vacationing couple Amanda and Clay Sandford, protective parents who try to keep their children safe in this bizarre new situation. Mahershala Ali plays G.H., one of the strangers who arrives at the house. His character and his daughter Ruth (played by Myha’la) could be desperate strangers seeking shelter or something more threatening.
The film explores deep (and sometimes sensitive) themes like trust, class disparity, survival, and the paralyzing fear of the unknown as all characters struggle to navigate the unsettling situation. The movie offers no easy answers, exploring how we grapple with trust, uncertainty, and the primal fear of the unknown in the face of a world turned upside down.
Why you should watch it
This one fits the bill if you enjoy movies that build tension and keep you guessing. The lack of information about the outside world and the suspicious nature of the strangers will have you on the edge of your seat. The film keeps the true nature of the event shrouded in secrecy.
This ambiguity can be frustrating for some viewers, but for others, it adds a layer of intrigue and invites them to piece together the puzzle themselves. With an A-list cast, the performance will leave you thinking about it well after the credits roll.
