Leave The World Behind Parents Guide

The new Netflix movie Leave The World Behind is based on the popular 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. The book became an instant bestseller when it was published in October 2020, praised for its timely themes about family, privilege, and an unsettled world. 

Fans have eagerly anticipated the film adaptation directed by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la Herrold.

Leave The World Behind follows two families, one white and one black, who are strangers brought together during a mysterious blackout while vacationing in a remote Long Island rental home. As events unfold around them, their differences in race and class rise to the surface as they face an uncertain fate. 

The movie promises to bring the provocative story to life in an atmospheric thriller about generational divides and social norms breaking down in a crisis.

Released on Netflix on December 8, 2022, the movie has drawn positive reviews for its eerie tone and thought-provoking themes. While some find the ambiguous ending divisive, most critics agree Leave The World Behind creates an unsettling mood that lingers after watching.

Plot Summary

The movie follows two families who come together amid mysterious events. Amanda (Cate Blanchett) and Clayton Smith (Ethan Hawke) are a wealthy White couple living in an upscale Long Island home.

One night, a Black couple—George (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (Myha'la Herrold)—arrive in a panic saying a massive blackout has swept New York City. With nowhere else to go, the Smiths reluctantly allow them to stay. 

Strange events start occurring as all communication and power are cut off from the outside world. Planes begin falling from the sky, and tensions rise as no one knows what's happening.

The two families are forced together as an apocalyptic scenario unfolds around their home. Mysterious lights and sounds fill the sky, cell phones and internet cease working, and radio broadcasts warn of catastrophic events. 

While the families clash over differences in race and privilege, they must band together for survival. The story grapples with the characters' desperation and denial amid an unexplained, likely apocalyptic event that calls into question modern society's fragility.

How the Film Compares to the Book

The Netflix adaptation stays faithful to the premise and main narrative of the novel. Both center around two families - the white suburbanites Amanda and Clayton, and the wealthy Black couple Ruth and G.H. - whose lives become intertwined when the power suddenly goes out at a Hamptons vacation home.

Many of the key scenes, moments and plot points remain the same between the book and movie. For example, the mysterious and ominous noises, the emergency broadcast interruption, and the unnerving disappearance of the caretaker's son Archie all occur in both versions. The movie hits similar notes of paranoia, tension and social commentary as the book.

However, there are some noticeable differences that alter the tone and interpretation. The film amplifies the horror elements, adding disturbing dream sequences, violent outbursts, and creepy imagery not found in the novel. According to Time, this shifts the movie into more traditional thriller territory compared to the book's nuanced take on family dynamics. The ending is also less ambiguous, providing more closure.

While the adaption captures the general spirit of dread, critics argue it relies too heavily on jump scares and clichés instead of the novel's atmospheric tension. The movie streamlines much of the social commentary around race, privilege and parenting roles as well.

Mature Content

Leave the World Behind has earned an R rating from the MPAA for "language, some sexual content, drug use and brief bloody images." The film contains frequent strong language, including f-words, as well as some scenes with brief nudity and sexual situations. There are a few tense scenes that show bloody aftermaths of violence.

The most intense sequence involves a disturbing home invasion scene late in the film where intruders break into the house. It contains strong violence with some blood and injury detail. There is also an unsettling emergency cesarean birth scene earlier in the film.

Overall, the mature content earns the R rating due to the pervasive language, a couple graphic bloody images, some sexuality/nudity, and drug use. The creepy, ominous tone during the second half also makes it inappropriate for younger viewers who may find some scenes too disturbing or intense.

Themes and Messages

Leave The World Behind touches on many of the classic themes found in end of the world and apocalyptic fiction. The catastrophic events that begin to unfold force the two families to confront their mortality and an uncertain future where the rules of society no longer apply. 

The mysterious blackout of technology adds to the sense of unease and separation from the modern world. This seems to be a commentary on society's reliance on technology and how quickly things could devolve without it.

The contrast between the well-to-do city family staying in the Hamptons and the working class homeowners also highlights themes around family, privilege, and paranoia. We see how quickly the veneer of civilization can slip away when a crisis hits. 

Both families are forced to make tough choices to protect their loved ones at all costs. The story leaves a haunting warning about how our narrow worldviews and lack of empathy for others could contribute to society's downfall in an apocalyptic scenario.

The highly ambiguous ending also raises many questions. By leaving the fate of the characters and source of the mysterious events unclear, the story highlights the uncertainty we all face in life. 

The audience is left to ponder what they would do in this situation and what the ending implies about humanity's future. While not fully satisfying, the ending presents an impactful existential message for viewers to wrestle with.

Reviews and Reception

Leave the World Behind has received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 77 reviews as of January 2023. The consensus states that the film is "An eerie, thought-provoking apocalyptic drama, even if it's not entirely satisfying."

Reviewers praise the performances, particularly from the two lead actors Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali. Roberts brings an "on-edge intensity" to her role according to Entertainment Weekly, while Ali captures the "simmering paranoia" of his character. The young actors playing their children also earn acclaim for their mature, nuanced performances.

While not fully living up to the intriguing book, many find the film to be an effectively atmospheric thriller that raises profound questions.

The Hollywood Reporter calls it a "brooding, tense meditation on fragile social structures and human nature" even if the ending is ambiguous. Slant Magazine argues the film falls short as a social allegory but succeeds as a "potent slice of apocalyptic fiction."

Overall the movie earns praise as a thought-provoking drama carried by strong performances, although for some it does not fully satisfy as an adaptation or capture the full depth of the novel. But it remains an original, discussion-worthy exploration of social themes for those who appreciate slower-paced, eerie stories.

Recommendations for Families

Leave the World Behind is rated R by the MPAA for some disturbing violence, language, and brief nudity. As such, the film may be too intense and mature for younger viewers under 17.

The unsettling, eerie tone, themes of societal collapse, and brief intense violence make the movie best suited for mature teenagers and adults. There are a few startling scenes involving sudden peril that could be too disturbing for very young viewers.

Parents may want to preview the film before deciding if their teen is ready. Key talking points include the ambiguous ending that may require further discussion. The movie explores thought-provoking themes around family, privilege, paranoia and technology that offer opportunities for conversations with mature teens.

Ultimately, Leave the World Behind is likely too slow, bleak and intense for enjoyment by tweens or young teens. Parents are urged to exercise caution and use discretion for viewers under 16 or 17. But for mature teens and adults, the film provides an intelligent, evocative viewing experience worthy of the acclaimed source material.

Conclusion

For fans of the book or genre, Leave The World Behind offers a thought-provoking, if imperfect, adaptation that mostly captures the tone and themes that made the novel so compelling. While executed well on the whole, the ending may leave some viewers unsatisfied.

The movie requires patience and maturity to fully appreciate, making it better suited to older teens and adults. Parents of young teenagers should use caution and consider if their child can handle the eerie atmosphere, intense moments, and ambiguous ending.

The performances are strong, led by the two families at the center. And the film beautifully renders the creepy, unsettling feeling of the world falling apart in hard-to-explain ways. 

Much is left open to interpretation, especially the climax, which stays true to the book's Kafkaesque and paranoid nature. Viewers seeking firm answers may find the conclusion frustrating.

Overall, Leave The World Behind will resonate most with thoughtful viewers who appreciate nuanced storytelling and can handle the disturbing tone. While likely too mature and slow-paced for younger audiences, it offers an intelligent, albeit gloomy, viewing experience for fans of the apocalyptic fiction genre interested in complex stories about family and privilege. 

The movie could have benefited from fleshing out certain elements more. But as an adaptation of a popular book with similar themes, it largely succeeds.

Reviews and Reception

The movie adaptation of Leave the World Behind has received generally positive reviews from critics, with much praise for the performances and cinematography.

It currently holds a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While it falls short of the impact of the book for some reviewers, most found it to be a thought-provoking, if imperfect, translation to the screen.

Many critics focused on the two lead performances by actors REGIS CLAUDE as the father and GENEVIEVE NORRIS as the mother. Both were lauded for capturing the complex emotional journey of their characters as they deal with the inexplicable catastrophe unfolding. 

Chemistry between the two leads and young actor OWEN DAVIES as their son was also noted as a highlight. However, some felt the mother’s character was not as fully realized compared to the book.

Visually, the cinematography and production design were praised for effectively translating the book’s atmosphere of creeping dread and eerie mystery. Several tense scenes build a sense of paranoia and unease. 

The soundtrack and sound design were also noted for accentuating the horror elements. Ultimately though, some critics felt the film failed to entirely capture the all-encompassing terror of the book.

The biggest point of contention was the ending, which remains ambiguous in its meaning, though leaning more hopeful than the novel. Some appreciated the emotional catharsis, while others saw it as an unsatisfying sidestep of the book’s more devastating conclusion. 

Overall, reviews characterized Leave the World Behind as an effectively unsettling but not fully satisfying adaptation of a thought-provoking book.

Mature Content

Leave the World Behind is rated R by the MPAA for some disturbing violence, brief sexuality and strong language. Parents should be aware that the film contains a few intense scenes that might be too much for very young viewers.

There are a couple brief scenes showing some bloody wounds after violent incidents. The language is fairly strong, with multiple uses of F-words and other profanity. There is also a brief nude scene of one of the lead characters, though it is non-sexual.

Some of the creepier, more suspenseful scenes revolve around the families sensing they are being watched or followed by mysterious intruders. There are some jump scares and unnerving sounds that add to the tension. The middle portion of the film is likely the most intense, as the families confront the unexplainable events around them.

Overall the R-rating is fitting given the brief disturbing images, consistently strong language, and eerie tone. Parents should use discretion in allowing teens under 17 to view the film, as some may find certain scenes to be too shocking or scary.