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Leave the World Behind is a thriller that explores the themes of paranoia, isolation, and uncertainty in the face of a mysterious cyberattack. Directed by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la, the film follows a family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home that takes an ominous turn when two strangers appear at their door, claiming to be the owners of the house.

The film boasts excellent performances by the cast, especially Mahershala Ali, who portrays the charismatic and enigmatic G.H., the supposed owner of the house. His interactions with Julia Roberts, who plays Amanda, the mother of the family, are tense and captivating, as they try to figure out each other’s motives and secrets. The film also features beautiful cinematography, capturing the contrast between the idyllic setting of the house and the chaotic events that unfold.

However, despite liking the film, I’m still not sure if it was good. The film seemed to rely more on manipulating the viewer’s emotions with sudden shocks, loud noises, disturbing images, and character misdirection rather than letting the actual story and characters lead the way. And be warned, while I happened to like the ending and found it thought-provoking, it certainly ends on an ambiguous note and leaves almost everything unanswered. However, because this film is based on a book, I’ve learned that the source material went into far greater depth about events across the nation. Perhaps they were holding back a bit for the sequel?

Nevertheless, the film has been an excellent conversation piece among those who have seen it, as it raises interesting and relevant issues about trust, survival, the fragility of civilization, as well as the choices of the actual movie makers. Leave the World Behind is a film that will leave you thinking and feeling, even if you’re not sure what to make of it.