We had “Birdbox.” Then we had “Don’t Look Up.” Well. It’s that time of the year again, my friends! ‘Tis the season for another “end of the world” thriller from Netflix!
Based on the best-selling novel, “Leave the World Behind” follows a family’s weekend getaway that takes a dark turn when a cyber attack knocks out their devices.
Netflix’s star-studded, post-apocalyptic nightmare, is glossy, grim and unsatisfying.
Reminiscent of an episode of “Black Mirror” or “The Twilight Zone,” “Leave the World Behind” does not tread into any unknown territory, nor does it make any revolutionary statements. The film feels like a rehashing of M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock on the Cabin” but without Dave Bautista’s tiny glasses.
The narrative tediously builds for more than two hours with heavily stylized filming, cringey CGI deer, an over-dramatic score and an overwritten screenplay only to result in an ambiguous ending that left me feeling frustrated.
Don’t get me wrong. Film can use ambiguity to create an impactful ending that challenges viewers. But there are also films that use ambiguity as a cop-out. That’s sort of what this felt like.
Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali are all talented in their own right. However their lackluster and unlikable characters fail at creating a connection with the audience. I was left realizing I did not care about their fate.
I just wanted the weird kid to watch “Friends,” or for Bambi to have his revenge.
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