By Jamil Weeks

As the year draws to a close, Netflix is doing their best Santa cosplay by delivering a gift that has become the subject of social media chatter. The present in question is the Sam Esmail-helmed Leave the World Behind. With Barack and Michelle Obama being listed as producers of the film, this movie was already the subject of controversy upon arrival. Agenda-based critics of the movie have already slapped the “woke” tag on the film, which has alienated a segment of moviegoers from the jump. For the more casual moviegoer who likes their story and conclusion spoon-fed to them, the movie has also gained some pushback. Leave the World Behind is a social commentary wrapped inside an apocalyptic psychological thriller about an unexpected family getaway that slowly devolves into chaos. When watching the film, you need to go into the experience with the mindset of catching the subtle nuances of the acting performances and the hidden messages the filmmakers are trying to convey to their audience. Thus, the reason for the divided reception amongst those who have seen the film. A common criticism I have read online is how many find the ending to be abrupt and anti-climactic. Many people feel the ending cheated them out of a satisfying conclusion. I am not here to say those people are wrong in sharing this opinion. However, I fear those individuals may have missed the point of the film.

Leave the World Behind follows a family as they look to literally leave the world behind. In one of the earlier scenes in the movie, Esmail has a scene that shows what could be considered as the modern-day family dynamic. The camera slowly pans over every family member in the vehicle as they make their way to their family getaway. The wife, played by Juila Roberts, as she talks on her smartphone. Her husband, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, as he fiddles with the touchscreen music player to find his favorite song. The kids in the back seat with their faces glued to their smartphones and tablets. Here you have a family that is supposed to be bonding as they spend quality time with each other but each one is too distracted by the technology of their choice. The scene is an example of how people have become overly reliant on technology to help us get through our day to day. As things begin to slowly unravel and the characters are deprived of different types of technology (phones, TV, Wi-Fi) they depend on daily, the film depicts just how clueless certain characters are. Ethan Hawke’s character gets lost trying to go down the street from their house rental without the aid of GPS. His daughter in the film, played by Farrah MacKenzie, is on the verge of depression now that she cannot watch the series finale to her favorite show, Friends. The characters in general seem to be helpless without communication. The story in part is just as much of an examination of how crippled our society would become without technology as it is a thriller about the end of the world.

Another theme explored with the movie characters is human nature. The movie begins with Julia Roberts’ character, Amanda, boldly proclaiming, “I f***ing hate people”. Throughout the course of the movie, Amanda qualifies that statement in how she deals with two strangers who unexpectedly show up to their vacation rental in the middle of the night, who are portrayed by Mahershali Ali and Myha’la Herrold as a father/daughter pair. Her treatment of these two characters shows racial undertones and a general mistrust of most people. Amanda has a similar view of people as the Joker from The Dark Knight in that they both do not believe people are inherently good. In Amanda’s case, she believes we all live under an illusion where our preoccupation with technological devices masks the true nature of who people really are. With this line of thinking, the filmmakers seem to think that humans are our own worst enemies. A point that is driven home when you notice the difference in behavior between humans and animals. When the crisis in the movie intensifies, you see animals, like deer and flamingos, band together in big groups in response to the danger. In the case of our human characters, in most cases they turn on each other. The message is not entirely grim, as there are examples in the movie of certain human characters, who were once at odds with each other at one point, who end up coming to each other’s aid. In this capacity, the movie serves as a warning that if we do not put a check on how we treat each other that this behavior can ultimately be our own undoing.

The spread of disinformation is also analyzed in the film. The confusion created by the characters not knowing what is happening or who the true enemy is adds to the mystery of the film that keeps the story compelling. The film points out that oftentimes the real enemy is staring at their own reflection in the mirror. Through the dissemination of conflicting information, that can result in a general distrust amongst people, which can lead to conflict. You see this often in politics today where our political system is partisan to the point where agendas get in the way of the real facts. In the movie, the characters start to unravel through the confusion of not knowing exactly what is going on. Drones are used to spread pamphlets in different cities to confuse people on who is attacking them. Is it the Iranians? The Chinese? Koreans? Russians? Are different countries teaming up on the United States? Or is it a more sinister plot. Again, the cautionary nature of the film serves as a reminder of how misinformation can be exploited to turn people against each other.

Whether you enjoyed the film or not, I personally found the premise of Leave the World Behind to be terrifying. What makes the film so scary is how believable it appears based on the current state of dysfunction in our society. The tribalistic nature of people has left many in a state where facts no longer matter. Dysfunction has become the new normal and lines are being drawn in the sand more than at any point in my lifetime. Leave the World Behind is a fictitious reflection of where our society can ultimately end up if we are not careful. Some people do not like how the movie leaves us with unanswered questions about the characters and their outcomes. In my opinion, that is what makes the film brilliant. The film is meant to spark endless debates and make up our own minds on whether the characters survive or not. Do not allow politics or ideological differences to hijack your viewing of this film. Maybe this film is not for everyone, but I think the film has great replay value. You pick up on certain things you may have missed on a previous watch. There is so much symbolism and Easter eggs in the film that Leave the World Behind becomes a provocative rewatch. Reviews for the film are all over the place. People either feel it is a brilliant work of art or complete trash. At the end of the day, you should give the film a try and decide for yourself. When you do watch, do not leave your thinking caps behind.