American psychological thriller film Leave the World Behind, is based on Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name. Directed and produced by Sam Esmail, Leave the World Behind had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on October 25, 2023. It is scheduled to be released in select theatres on November 22, 2023, before it will be out on Netflix on December 8, 2023.
Leave The World Behind: Plot and Cast
According to Netflix, “A family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout. As the threat grows more imminent, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.”
- Julia Roberts as Amanda
- Mahershala Ali as G.H.
- Ethan Hawke as Clay
- Myha’la as Ruth
- Farrah Mackenzie as Rose
- Charlie Evans as Archie
- Kevin Bacon as Dann
The story starts with a New York family (Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and their children Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) leaving the city for a vacation in Long Island. Their rental home advertised with the line “Leave the World Behind.” The environment and the nearby beach seem like the perfect place for the stressed family needs. However, things turn ominous when the younger daughter (Mackenzie’s Rose), the more perceptive one in the family notices a giant oil tanker that seems to be a movie too close to the sunbathers and swimmers.
The family is surprised by an evening visit of a Black man and his daughter (Mahershala Ali and Myha’la). Robert’s Amanda doesn’t try to hide her suspicion. The strangers informed me that they owned this vacation house and fled their NY apartment due to a blackout in the city. Very soon, more nightmarish events unfold.
If you have any questions regarding Leave the World Behind, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we are trying to build a community of people High On Cinema!
