Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the industry: Netflix’s marketing department are shockingly bad. Having made a movie starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon, they gave it only the slightest of pushes before releasing it into the wilds of their ever-expanding streaming service. That lack of attention is baffling, because the cast of Leave the World Behind alone makes it noteworthy.

Leave the World Behind follows the Sandford family when parents Amanda (Roberts) and Clay (Hawke) decide to take their teenagers out of the city to a rented property in a remote location. Shortly after arriving, they’re woken by a knock at the door in the middle of the night, only to meet the house’s owner (Ali) and his daughter, seeking refuge from widespread blackouts. As the two families co-exist, they watch as their world begins to unravel outside, marking the end of society as they know it.

Apocalyptic thrillers are almost always enjoyable on at least some level, simply because of the imagination that they inspire. After all, Leave the World Behind‘s premise is remarkably plausible, and that’s all part of its appeal. However, that’s not what makes the film work.

Leave The World Behind Is Made By The Talent Of Its Cast

As the majority of the film takes place in a single house, it is at times a claustrophobic examination of humanity and society in the face of adversity. That’s not the sort of story that works with any weak links in the acting chain, and thankfully, there aren’t any. Roberts, Ali, and Hawke all bring their characters to life deftly, weaving an tensely intricate web of personality that sees each individual embark on their own emotional odyssey.

In truth, though we once labelled Julia Roberts one of Hollywood’s most overrated actors, she’s by far the standout star. Her performance as the prickly Amanda is the most complex and fascinating in the movie, and Roberts brings genuine depth to the character that makes her almost impossible to fully understand. It’s perfect for a film as packed with mystery as Leave the World Behind, that’s for sure.

Perhaps the only aspect of the film that genuinely disappoints is its ending. Though it builds up its conclusion as a potentially huge twist, it ends rather abruptly and with a fairly underwhelming explanation. It also leaves multiple questions unanswered, which is decidedly infuriating.

All told, it’s a good movie. There’s plenty of interesting storytelling that truly makes the audience think, but it’s ultimately a little disappointing, particularly in its conclusion. Even so, it’s a solid addition to the increasingly popular apocalypse genre, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.

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Rating: 65%

Summary: Leave the World Behind is a well-made film with a great cast that unfortunately falters at the final hurdle.

Highlight: The tension and chemistry between the film’s central cast is excellent, particularly where it pertains to the knowledge they’re all reluctant to share with one another.