Leave the World Behind: Mark Kermode’s Netflix scifi film review (video format).
Imagine this, muses our man-0f-many-movies, film reviewer Mark Kermode: you’re lounging in a swanky Long Island vacation home, sipping something cold, when suddenly, knock knock. Who’s there? Not a punchline, but an older couple claiming to own your Airbnb. Welcome to Leave the World Behind, Sam Esmail’s latest Netflix sci-fi apocalyptic brain-boggler, where family getaways meet end-of-the-world chaos. Based on Rumaan Alam’s novel, this film takes “unplugged vacation” to a whole new level.
Let’s set the stage: Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke play Amanda and Clay, your average parents just trying to enjoy some downtime with their teenagers, Archie and Rose. But the universe has other plans. Enter George and Ruth, played by Mahershala Ali and Myha’la, claiming there’s been a citywide blackout. Oh, and they’d like to stay, thanks. Cue the eerie music and Amanda’s side-eye.
The Sandfords’ retreat quickly turns into a survivalist’s dream (or nightmare). Phones dead, TV kaput, and the internet gone with the wind. And just when you think it can’t get any weirder, Clay drives into town, only to find himself in a lost-in-translation moment with a Spanish-speaking woman babbling about “electric”, “telephone”, and “deer”. Classic Clay, he leaves her in the dust.
Back at the house, things get even more Twilight Zone. Thousands of deer outside, tick bites, and oh, a casual flock of flamingos because why not? Then the real fun begins: loud noises, planes crashing, bats dropping like flies. The end is nigh, but first, let’s fill the bathtub with water. But wait, there’s more. Archie’s teeth are falling out (not your typical teenage problem), and Rose has pulled a disappearing act. Meanwhile, Clay’s playing confessions with George about leaving the distressed woman behind. Plot twist: she might be George’s maid, Rosa. Awkward.
In this chaos, we’ve got Danny (Kevin Bacon), the contractor with a penchant for ominous deer predictions and a serious lack of hospitality. And while the world outside goes bonkers with floods, emergencies, and a president in hide-and-seek mode, our two families are playing their own version of Survivor.
Leave the World Behind had its grand debut at AFI Fest 2023, followed by a theatrical tease before Netflix scooped it up for the binging pleasure of couch potatoes everywhere. Critics are eating it up, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a juicy 80% and Metacritic slapping on a respectable 74.
So, if you’re in the mood for a psychological rollercoaster that makes your family gatherings look tame, buckle up for Leave the World Behind. It’s a sci-fi thriller that takes “weird family vacation” to stellar new heights, complete with deer, flamingos, and a side of dental horror. Just remember, next time you book a vacation home, you might get more than you bargained for.
