In most disaster movies, the disaster is the star. Hurricane. Tsunami. Megalodon. Godzilla.
Not so in “Leave The World Behind” (now on Netflix), director Sam Esmail’s (“Mr. Robot”) tense reworking of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 bestseller by the same name.
Here the disaster is never well defined, though its effects – from Wi-Fi outages to deer infestations to beached cargo ships – stir up mounting levels of paranoia in a vacationing couple (Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts), their teens (Charlie Evans and Farrah Mackenzie) and a mysterious duo (Mahershala Ali and Myha’la) who appear late at night in their rented home’s doorway.
“It’s a disaster movie that reorients you away from the disaster and towards the disintegration of these six characters,” says Esmail. “In some ways, it betrays the genre, but that made me more excited about doing it.”
Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts star as New York City parents whose family weekend away turns apocalyptic in “Leave the World Behind.”
Esmail spoke to USA TODAY about reworking elements of the book to fit his film, how Roberts was his first choice for prickly Amanda, and getting script notes from former President Barack Obama, who helped back the film through his and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground.
The biggest differences between the film and book versions of ‘Leave The World Behind’
Alam’s novel is anchored to a mysterious blackout in New York City that causes George, or G.H. (Ali), and Ruth (Myha’la) to go back to their fancy home on Long Island, which Amanda (Roberts) and her family have rented.
Esmail says he has long been fascinated with cyberattacks (“they’re out there and they’re mystifying”) and decided to weave that into his movie as an added layer, which results in eerily garbled smartphone news alerts and other discomfiting plot points.
Myha’la as Ruth and Julia Roberts as Amanda sit opposite G.H., played by Mahershala Ali. Ruth, G.H.’s daughter, has a tempestuous relationship with Amanda in “Leave The World Behind,” an apocalyptic thriller.
But the biggest change was made to the character of Ruth, who in the book is G.H.’s wife. In the movie, Ruth is now his snarling daughter. “Because this subject of alienation is so timely, I felt we needed that Gen Z and millennial point of view, not just for her commentary on the crisis but also for the friction with Amanda,” he says.
News
Nicolas Cage Weighs in on the Possibility of a Face/Off Sequel
Nicolas Cage is ready for an onscreen rematch against former co-star John Travolta. As the actor exclusively revealed on the Jan. 9 episode of E! News, “I would love to get back into the Face/Off ring.” The 1997 sci-fi action flick starred Travolta as FBI agent…
“Heartbroken” Nicolas Cage Believes Ex Lisa Marie Presley Has Been Reunited With Son Benjamin After Death
After Lisa Marie Presley died Jan. 12 after a possible cardiac arrest, her ex-husband Nicolas Cage paid tribute to the singer by sharing his fondest memories. Nicolas Cage is paying tribute to his late ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley. One day after the 54-year-old singer…
Nicolas Cage Welcomes Baby No. 3, First With Wife Riko Shibata
Nicolas Cage is a girl dad! The Ghost Rider actor—who is a father to two sons Kal-El Coppola Cage and Weston Coppola Cage—welcomed his first daughter with wife Riko Shibata. Nicolas Cage has a new national treasure in his life! The actor…
Secrets About the National Treasure Franchise
ecrets About the National Treasure Franchise 1. The film was announced in 1999 and originally intended to be released in 2000, but original writer Jim Kouf‘s script was so complex that eight additional writers were hired between 1999 and 2003 by Disney…
Longlegs director teases an “unrecognizable” Nicolas Cage as a demonic serial killer in new horror movie
Exclusive: Director Osgood Perkins talks Nicolas Cage’s Zodiac-esque serial killer (Image credit: Neon) Longlegs director Osgood Perkins says Nicolas Cage is unrecognizable in the upcoming horror thriller – and we’re ready for the non-stop nightmares. “We derived the voice of…
‘The Rock’: THR’s 1996 Review
On June 7, 1996, Buena Vista unveiled Michael Bay’s blockbuster actioner, which paired Sean Connery with Nicolas Cage. Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage in ‘The Rock’ EVERETT On June 7, 1996, Buena Vista unveiled Michael Bay’s actioner The Rock, which paired…
End of content
No more pages to load