Escaping the Hustle - "Leave The World Behind": A Thriller Starring Julia Roberts
Imagine receiving a late-night knock on your isolated vacation home's door. The person on the other side, smartly dressed and polite, claims to be the house's genuine owner in distress due to an unexpected emergency in the city. Would you open the door? Laughter fills Julia Roberts' voice as she tells this anecdote, her character Amanda Sandford in the gripping Netflix movie "Leave The World Behind".
The titular thriller set during the picturesque Long Island getaway is a chilling blend of mystery, unease, and fear induced by a series of eerie incidents that challenge the very core of the familial bond. In the film adaptation of Rumaan Alam's bestseller, the Sandfords, along with their children Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), are in for an unsettling retreat as the tranquility is disrupted by the sudden appearance of strange occurrences that test their calm.
Erasing the Internet to Experience Serenity
Swanning off to Long Island for a weekend of bliss filled only with nature and family bonding, the out-of-touch Sandfords have no way of keeping up with the world outside. Yet, beneath the idyllic façade of seclusion, a sinister plot begins to unfold when the family encounters a seemingly simple mishap on the beach - a massive cargo ship docks too close. You can almost sense the unsettling tension as director and screenwriter Sam Esmail sets the scene.
During a calm dinner, an unnerving knock from the door abruptly disrupts their night. A well-dressed, charming stranger(Mahershala Ali) introduces himself as George, the houseowner, citing a city-wide power failure as the reason for seeking shelter. However, George's genuine intentions and background are called into question more than once, leading to a tense standoff between the Sandfords and their new guests.
A Chilling Atmosphere Amplified by Real-life Fears
"Leave The World Behind" masterfully weaves fear and tension into every frame, harnessing the audience's own anxieties. Esmail speaks on his choice to tap into these pre-existing fears, which range from the unknown to losing control of one's environment. The children's sounds of sleep provide a stark contrast to the growing atmosphere of unease as the Sandford family witnesses these seemingly inexplicable events surrounding their shelter.
"Let Me In" - or Let Them Inside?
George's sudden arrival represents an unlikely collaboration as the Sandfords reluctantly agree to share their home with the uncertainty of the stranger. Amanda, portrayed by Julia Roberts, displays a mix of skepticism and suspicion, while her husband, Ethan Hawke's Clay Sandford, urges her to exercise empathy and compassion. This scene prompts a thought-provoking question of whether the widening racial divide may have played a role in Amanda's response to George.
Unexpected Nervousness and Unease
With the children asleep and parents unwinded, the Sandfords unwittingly open the door to a series of uncanny occurrences and violent acts. Among these events is a late-night television broadcast that notifies the audience of an ominous national emergency. The film escalates as the source of the unnatural disruptions becomes more obscured. In a gripping scene, self-driving Teslas, seemingly possessed by a malevolent force, dart across the road. The once peaceful holiday utopia rapidly descends into chaos, and the Sandford family finds themselves at the center of the turmoil.
Esmail's Hitchcockian Harrow
The thriller "Leave The World Behind" showcases a universe of intrigue and paranoia, owing much to legendary director Alfred Hitchcock's grand masterpieces. The reversal of focus, placing people over disaster, draws inspiration from films like "Psycho" and "The Birds."
A talented cast led by Emily Blunt, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali provides powerful performances that radiate human emotion amid the chaos. Kevin Bacon shines as a paranoid prepper who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery, while Roberts lends a raw honesty to her character.
Avoiding the Dangers of Streaming
As "Leave The World Behind" unfolds, the digital dominion of streaming entertainment exposes its own vulnerabilities. A lack of tangible media, like DVDs or LP records, highlights the potential consequences of an intermittent electronic connection.
Thought-provoking and suspenseful, "Leave The World Behind" leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, questioning their own instincts and scrutinizing the bonds that intertwine our lives.
