Sam Esmail, best known for directing Mr. Robot, has the distinguishing trait of tackling the themes of alienation and American society. In his latest psychological thriller, Leave the World Behind, he adapts the eponymous novel by Rumaan Alam and brings it to the screen with gyrating visuals and piercing social critique.
The story focuses on a Park Slope family composed by parents Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke), and their teen children Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), who rent a holiday house in a quaint hamlet of Long Island. One night, the high-profiled black man George (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la), show up at the house saying it’s their home and that they are seeking refuge from a mysterious black out. During their stay, the two families witness an apocalyptic scenario and will have to decide how to endure the upcoming crisis. They also try to reach out to Danny (Kevin Bacon), a neighbour who personifies the struggle for survival of human beings in the face of danger.
The Netflix drama has amongst its Executive Producers Barack and Michelle Obama, who have dauntlessly embarked upon a project that mocks American society. It doesn’t come as a total surprise, since the former President included the novel Leave the World Behind in his list of recommended books for 2021, tracing some ideas about a possible film. Sam Esmail explained that Barack Obama had many notes on the characters and on the empathy that they would trigger in the viewer. He provided insight no how to tone down certain aspects of the early drafts of the script.
The picture — with merciless irony — mocks ethnic discrimination, misanthropy, paranoia, conspiracy theories and internet dependence. Human behaviour is shown in all its facets. When dystopia takes over it is amusing to see how quickly individuals point the figure of suspicion and how ignorantly they do so. China and Korea are confused with one another, just as Iran and Iraq. America is seen at its worst.
The way Leave the World Behind pokes at our society is brilliantly shown by the different generational and behavioural prototypes. Amanda is a suspicious woman who uses cynicism as a defence mechanism; Clay is the optimistic people-pleaser; George is the established black man who has to confront society’s racial prejudice but graciously bears with it; Ruth is the woke Afro-American tween; Archie is the doltish, spoilt teenager; Rose is the paradigm of youngsters addicted to television series, and is in symbiotic awe of one in particular: Friends.
The actors are brilliantly cast: they have great chemistry and manage to entertain, move and provoke reflection. Sam Esmail not only displays talent in the screenplay he wrote, but flaunts extravagant shots. They emerge from the most unexpected angles and twist around deliriously, just like the absurdity of the situation that the characters confront.
Leave the World Behind is not the typical disaster movie, it’s bold and sharp in criticising American culture and ingenious in building up the cataclysmic tension. Also the ending (without giving spoilers) is an unexpected treat.
Final Grade: A