In Leave the World Behind’s ending, Rose finds a bunker with a DVD of Friends, while New York City is bombed, suggesting a foreign attack has caused societal collapse.
Leave the World Behind is a gripping apocalyptic thriller that leaves viewers with many questions about its enigmatic ending. The film, based on the novel by Rumaan Alam, follows two families as they navigate a series of strange and unsettling events that hint at a larger societal breakdown.
The Sanfords’ Vacation Disrupted
The movie begins with the Sanford family, Amanda (Julia Roberts), Clay (Ethan Hawke), and their children Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), arriving at a luxurious rental home in Long Island for a last-minute getaway.
Their idyllic vacation is soon disrupted by the arrival of the home’s owners, G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold), who claim there has been a blackout in the city.
Mounting Tension and Mysterious Events
As the two families are forced to coexist, tension mounts, and a series of increasingly bizarre and unsettling events unfold. Planes crash, a mysterious noise pierces the air, and Archie’s teeth begin to fall out. The characters grapple with the uncertainty of their situation and the growing realization that the world they once knew may be coming to an end.
G.H.’s Theory of a Foreign Attack
In a pivotal scene, G.H. reveals to Clay his theory about what is happening. As an investment banker with high-profile clients in the defense sector, G.H. believes that a foreign entity is orchestrating a three-stage attack to destabilize the United States. This includes disabling communication and transportation, spreading misinformation, and ultimately leading to a coup d’état or civil war.
The Search for Rose and Archie
As the situation escalates, the families are forced to split up. Clay and G.H. seek medicine for Archie, while Amanda and Ruth search for Rose, who has gone missing. During their search, Amanda and Ruth witness the bombing of New York City, confirming the severity of the situation.
Rose’s Discovery of the Bunker
The movie’s final scene focuses on Rose, who has found her way into a neighbor’s doomsday bunker. Inside, she discovers a DVD of the Friends finale, which she had been eager to watch throughout the film. As she starts the episode, the iconic theme song plays, and the screen fades to black, leaving the audience with a sense of both hope and uncertainty.
The Symbolism of Friends
The use of Friends in the ending serves as a poignant commentary on the characters’ desire for normalcy and connection in the face of an unraveling world. Rose’s fixation on the show represents a longing for the comfort and familiarity of the past, even as the present becomes increasingly unrecognizable.
Unanswered Questions and Interpretations
Leave the World Behind’s ending leaves many questions unanswered, allowing for various interpretations. Some viewers may see the bunker as a symbol of hope and survival, while others may interpret it as a futile attempt to cling to the past in the face of an inevitable collapse.
Director Sam Esmail has stated that the ambiguous ending was intentional, designed to provoke conversation and reflection. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he explained, “We knew going into this that the ending was going to be polarizing, but we did not want to pull punches on it”.
The Novel’s Ending
It is worth noting that the movie’s ending differs slightly from the novel’s conclusion. In the book, Rose gathers supplies from the bunker before presumably returning to her family. However, both endings leave the ultimate fate of the characters and the world they inhabit open to interpretation.
| Comparison | Movie Ending | Novel Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Rose’s Actions | Watches Friends finale in bunker | Gathers supplies from bunker |
| Family Reunion | Not shown | Implied |
| World’s Fate | Left ambiguous | Left ambiguous |
Themes of Human Connection and Survival
At its core, Leave the World Behind is a story about human connection and the lengths people will go to survive in the face of unimaginable circumstances. The movie’s ending, while open-ended, invites viewers to consider the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of holding onto hope, even in the darkest of times.
As Rumaan Alam, the author of the novel, stated in an interview with Variety, “The key thing to look at … is that the book ends with a question mark”.
This sentiment is echoed in the film’s conclusion, which leaves viewers with more questions than answers, but also with a profound sense of the fragility and preciousness of the world we inhabit.
Similar Movies
If you’re looking for movies similar to “Leave the World Behind” that blend elements of psychological tension, apocalyptic scenarios, and a deep dive into human behavior under crisis, here are a few recommendations:
- Bird Box (2018): Directed by Susanne Bier and starring Sandra Bullock, this film shares a similar apocalyptic setting where unseen forces cause society to collapse. The characters must find a way to survive without using one of their senses, sight, which leads to a tense and psychological exploration of fear and survival.
- A Quiet Place (2018): Directed by John Krasinski, who also stars alongside Emily Blunt, this film presents a post-apocalyptic world overrun by creatures that hunt by sound. The focus on family dynamics and survival in a world where even the slightest whisper can be deadly aligns with the psychological tension found in “Leave the World Behind”.
- The Road (2009): Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel and directed by John Hillcoat, this film follows a father and his son as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world. The desolate setting and the characters’ struggle to retain their humanity amidst despair and danger echo the thematic elements of survival and moral dilemmas seen in “Leave the World Behind”.
- It Comes at Night (2017): Directed by Trey Edward Shults, this psychological horror film centers on two families forced together in a remote cabin to escape a deadly outbreak. The movie delves into themes of paranoia, trust, and survival, similar to the interpersonal dynamics and tension seen in “Leave the World Behind”.
- 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016): Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, this thriller explores the dynamics between characters in a bunker following a catastrophic event. The film’s focus on the psychological aspect of surviving an apocalypse, with a mix of mystery and tension, parallels the unnerving atmosphere in “Leave the World Behind”.
- Children of Men (2006): Directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Clive Owen, this film is set in a dystopian future where humanity faces extinction due to infertility. The journey to protect a miraculously pregnant woman amidst chaos and despair shares themes of hope and survival against the backdrop of a collapsing society, similar to “Leave the World Behind”.
These movies, like “Leave the World Behind”, explore the psychological depth of characters facing the end of the world or civilization as they know it, offering a mix of suspense, drama, and existential contemplation.
Reference: Wikipedia
