“Leave the World Behind” is a slow-burn psychological thriller that sustains the tension throughout the entire runtime, permeating the atmosphere with a perpetual feeling of impending doom. Married couple Amanda and Clay (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke) book an Airbnb outside the city to escape the hustle and bustle with their two children. But in the middle of the night, a knock on the door reveals a man and his daughter claiming to be the homeowners. The man, G.H., is played by Mahershala Ali, and his daughter, Ruth, by Myha'la Herrold, and they claim that a massive power outage has crippled the city where their main home is, and they headed out to their remote rental for refuge. To navigate this night together, the families must determine what's happening, who they can trust, and what to do next.

Director Sam Esmail and cinematographer Tod Campbell have a lot of fun with the camera here. Campbell utilizes some Fincher-esque impossible camera moves, panning through walls and floors, pushing through walls and windows. He incorporates a Cuaron-inspired car shot that moves around the interior of the car, taking a moment to focus on each passenger. This particular shot also utilizes some excellent sound design that brings forward the audio of what each passenger listens to in the car. Campbell even turns the camera sideways for a couple of shots to artful effect. 

The car shot perfectly illustrates the film's predominant theme: reliance on technology has severed our need for human connections. A family of four is driving in a car on vacation together, yet they're all listening to something different. Each person is living a separate and contained existence. The power outage begs us to confront how we operate in a world without technology. 

When G.H. and Ruth appear at the doorstep, Amanda and Clay are understandably hesitant to allow perfect strangers into the house where their children are sleeping. Amanda, in particular, is unwilling to take the G.H.'s word at face value. With technology at our fingertips, we're accustomed to being able to pick up the phone and verify information instantly -- call the management company, check email, reference the booking app for rental agreements, etc. But with these conveniences unavailable, Amanda and Clay are forced to confront their fellow man face to face on a human level. Esmail is asking if we're even capable of doing that anymore.

Moment after moment emphasizes our reliance on technology. Clay gets lost for hours driving just a short distance simply because he has no GPS to guide him. Planes crash, and boats are grounded. But how do we move forward when the technological bubbles we have built around ourselves have popped? Should we bunker down and shut off from the rest of the world? Or do we reach out and connect to our fellow man? 

The all-star cast is fantastic, and Esmail mixes the pairings of cast members on screen throughout, so we get different character dynamics in almost every scene. Roberts and Hawke privately wrestle with their fears of letting these perfect strangers into the home. Roberts and Ali share some wonderfully tender moments after Amanda's initial fears have subsided and she's opened up to G.H. 

The last character I want to mention is Danny, a local survivalist "nut," played by Kevin Bacon. In his limited screen time, Bacon delivers a fiery performance, essentially a single confrontational exchange. Clay and G.H. approach Danny out of desperation, aware that he has hoarded ample supplies of water, medicine, and ammunition. This encounter highlights the contrasting perspectives on the way ahead. Clay is forced to confront the reality that he lacks the skills necessary to survive in such conditions, while Danny seems poised to sacrifice his humanity for survival. 

As the film concludes, Esmail does provide an answer as to what caused the blackout. It's my understanding that the book does not. While I appreciate wanting to give closure to the film's central mystery, doing so somewhat undercuts its major themes, shifting the focus to the resolution. In resolving the mystery, the tension and conflict feel like they're intentionally building to this crescendo - a grand reveal that is ultimately a meaningless bookend. Suppose the film retained an ambiguous, unresolved ending. In that case, it becomes clear that the film's central focus is the tension and the conflict - that human interaction and relationships define our humanity.

"Leave the World Behind" may not be for everyone. It's not a typical apocalyptic thriller, but I immensely enjoyed the production, the outstanding performances, and the questions it asks about human nature. 

— 4.5 / 5 ⭐