Leave the World Behind — Review
As you've probably gathered from the title, I'll be talking about my thoughts on Leave the World Behind. I’ve been meaning to write about this movie, but as a perfectionist, I often find myself procrastinating when faced with the possibility of not getting things exactly right. However, the aim of this blog is not too chase some type of academic perfection, but to simply let my thoughts flow #goodforthesoul.
With that being said, I want to begin by applauding the casting choices in this film. There's something really commendable about actors who can immerse you so deeply in their characters that you forget they're just playing a role. Julia Roberts hit the Angry White Women™ trope on the head, embodying a pessimistic mother of two who wears her dislike (and discrimination) for people openly.
The contrast with Mahershala Ali's character, GH, adds an intriguing layer to the story. GH's optimistic outlook, always seeing the good in people, creates a fascinating dynamic with Julia Roberts' character, even if it occasionally veers into annoying territory. Yet, Ali's portrayal is so compelling (and handsome) that I couldn't help but love him nonetheless. (Also shout out the beautiful Myha'la Herrold, whom I would love to see more of on the big screen)
Whenever I mention my love for horror, it's often met with raised eyebrows and the inevitable question: “But why?” Look, cinema as an art form provokes and transports us. It reframes the way we perceive life while removing us momentarily from our own lives. Fundamentally, cinema makes us feel. To me, horror acts as a socio-political bookmark illuminating our deepest cultural fears and awakening them through a visual manifestation that we as a society can connect over.
Take Jaws, for example, an iconic body of work that tapped into the primal fear of the unknown ocean depths so effectively that it literally kept people out of the water— the power of art!
Or, Black Mirror, one of my personal favorites, which explores the horrors of futuristic technology so convincingly that the show's name has become a shorthand for any scenario that feels unsettlingly possible in our tech-driven world. How often have you heard a creepy, futuristic situation described as “feeling like a Black Mirror episode”? A lot! Artttt.
Katerina Bantinaki eloquently explores this fascination with horror in her article, The Paradox of Horror: Fear as a Positive Emotion.
“Fear makes us feel alive: our senses are alert; our heart is bouncing; our attention is highly focused. The increased arousal of horror-induced fear is invigorating and can be experienced as a reward, especially if one wants to break the emotional routine without risking one’s life”
This theory perfectly encapsulates my feelings while watching Leave the World Behind, as it also mirrors the socio-political tensions of our times, rendering its scenarios disturbingly plausible. The movie skillfully taps into contemporary fears, from the unnerving appearance and disappearance of emergency alerts on Amanda’s iPhone, to the image of self-driving Teslas crashing into each other on the freeway.
Admittedly, the ending of the film wasn’t my favorite. It didn't leave me satisfied, which I suspect was precisely director Sam Esmail's intention. Having never watched Friends, I found myself somewhat detached from the references scattered throughout the movie. However, the symbolic significance behind these nods was not lost on me.
Despite this, the choice to end the film with the theme song after the discovery of a concealed apocalypse survival bunker felt jarring. There I was, exclaiming “WAIT, that’s it?” at my TV, pondering the audacity of such a narrative maneuver.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the film. After taking a brief hiatus from horror due to a sense of fatigue with the genre, this movie has rekindled my interest and inspired me to explore horror with fresher eyes and deeper appreciation.
