LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2023) (mini film review by Mark R. Leeper and Evelyn C. Leeper)

[Philip De Parto]

The following review is reprinted with permission from

THE MT VOID
01/19/24 -- Vol. 42, No. 29, Whole Number 2311

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LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2023)  (mini film review by Mark R. Leeper and
Evelyn C. Leeper)


In LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND Ethan
Hawke and Julia Roberts rent a house on Long Island.  While on the
beach an oil tanker runs aground right in front of them.  When they
get home the WiFi is out and there's no cell service.  Then
Mahershala Ali and Myha'la show up, claiming to be the owners,
stranded by a blackout in New York City.  Things continue to get
weirder and it's clear that Ali knows more than he is saying.

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND is similar to a "Twilight Zone" episode, but
it is original in its approach.

Director Sam Esmail is in love with Dutch angles--and not just
Dutch angles but rotating the camera through 360 degrees, often not
staying in a single plane.  He also uses unsettling sound effects
and music by Mac Quayle to create or add tension.  The problem is
that this is all very obvious to the viewer, who will probably feel
they are being manipulated.  It's also not clear the explanation
(such as it is) makes much sense.  [-ecl]

Released theatrically 22 November 2023.  Rating: +2 (-4 to +4), or
7/10.

Film Credits:
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12747748/reference>

What others are saying:
<https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/leave_the_world_behind_2023>