Leave the World Behind (Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la) – Something is wrong. Very wrong. Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) is a loner, an unhappy, rich woman who “hates people.” Her husband, Clay, a milquetoast, anxious-to-please husband (Ethan Hawke) and college professor just tries to make their increasingly troubled marriage work. Their two kids seem like your typical Gen Y narcissists, spending all their time online or watching Friends reruns while using the f-bomb liberally.
On a whim, Amanda rents a house for an impromptu vacation. And it’s not just any house; it’s a gorgeous, modern, multi-million dollar home not far from New York (maybe in the Hamptons). Once settled, she heads into the town for groceries and runs into a guy (Kevin Bacon) loading his truck with survivalist gear and lots of non-perishable goods.
Once back, the family heads to the beach. There, the first signs of trouble appear. An oil tanker – a big-ass ship – washes ashore as the Sandfords and everyone else goes running. Weird.
Getting back to the house, the Internet is out. The TVs don’t work. But suddenly, a message appears on the screen – an emergency alert. Only this one is not a test. The message is cryptic and disappears. Cell phone service is down until the next morning when Amanda sees a CNN “breaking news” alert that came in overnight. But then it’s gone, too.
That night, a man, G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter, Ruth (Myh’la), knock on the door … saying they own this house. They were out to see a play, G.H. said, but couldn’t get home due to a power blackout. They decided to drive to the house they own to spend the night. They realize the Sandfords are renting it. But they’re in a bind and are willing to sleep in the “mother-in-law” quarters.
Predictably, Amanda is skeptical while Clay is accommodating. What’s going on? This is strange. An oil tanker. Strange people showing up at the door. The internet and TV out. Cryptic messages on the phone and TV. The daughter can’t watch Friends! The horror!
You get the picture. I brace myself for a horror movie about an alien invasion or some such thing. There are six people in this house, and I figure they will disappear one at a time. Does anyone survive? Are we doomed? Why is Kevin Bacon in this movie, for God’s sake?
Leave the World Behind went right to streaming on Netflix! Right to streaming with Oscar winner Julia Roberts; 2-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali; and 4-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke? How bad is this?
Well, I really enjoyed it. And the internet is loaded with “What does the ending mean?” The film will leave you guessing and wondering “What happens next?”