Netflix has just released an end-of-the-world thriller called “Leave the World Behind” by executive producers Michelle and Barack Obama. The film delves into what would happen in an “end of the world scenario” and how the real threat isn’t the Chinese or Russians… it’s your neighbor.
**_ Spoiler Warning _**
The film starts innocently enough. Amanda Sanford (Julia Roberts) books a vacation home in Long Island so that her and her family can get away for a few days.
They arrive to find a beautiful vacation home in the wilderness. Everything is great until they go to the beach. While enjoying the sun they realize a large oil tanker is on the horizon. Over the next few minutes, the oil tanker steams towards them causing the father Clay (Ethan Hawke), son Archie (Charlie Evans), and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) to flee.
Upon returning home they reflect on how the children seem to be “over it” already, neither realizing that this was only the start.
Later that evening the owner of the house GH Scott (Mahershala Ali) shows up with his daughter Ruth (Myha’la). After playing up some racial stereotypes that all middle-class white couples are awkward bigots, the Scotts reveal that they had just come from the symphony and that there was a major black-out in the city and they had decided to come to their vacation home that was rented by the Sanford family.
Over the next few acts it plays out that GH (also known as George) works in the stock market and handles the accounts of wealthy people. His biggest client is a defense industry contractor. He tells Amanda that this man had called a few days ago and had asked GH to move a large amount of money around and that the client would be out of touch.
When George inquires where he is going, his client’s reply was simply “Good luck to you” in a sympathetic tone, and then hangs up.
After a bit more, they go to find help and end up at a “Dooms Day Prepper’s” home played by Kevin Bacon. Before what’s becoming an apparent Cyber Attack, the prepper and GH had a great relationship.
When arriving at the prepper’s house, they find a different tone than they expected. Kevin Bacon’s character comes out holding a rifle and being very standoffish. After a few tense minutes, he relents and helps the family and gives them a tip to an underground bunker at a near by neighbor’s home.
The Underlying Premise
It’s quite clear that the Obamas were behind this film. The director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) has mentioned that the Obamas were very instrumental in details in the script.
This begs the question, was the movie just a mediocre thriller, or were their hidden undertones to the screenplay?
The entire premise of the film is “Don’t worry about foreign invaders, worry about your neighbors”. Then there is the underlying subplot that China, Russia and Korea are going to use a cyberattack to shut down North America. Also mixed in are tidbits of information, like the world isn’t controlled by a cabal, but more like a bunch of cabals competition for resources.
Conclusion
All in all it’s well worth the watch, but pay attention to the underlying details.