Spoiler-Free Review of “Leave the World Behind” on Netflix: An Unnerving Thriller that Hooked me from the Start

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“The vacation from hell…”

Leave the World Behind released on Netflix on December 8th 2023. The apocalyptic thriller film stars Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon. It runs for approximately two hours and twenty minutes.

A family vacation in Long Island, New York is interrupted when two strangers show up at the house in the middle of the night claiming to be the owners. After explaining that there has been a blackout in the city, the threat begins to grow as both families must figure out how to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Leave the World Behind never allows you a moment to look away from the screen. The cast is out of this world and the feeling of dread that this film creates makes this an effective and relatable thriller. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Really draws you in!

I’m not usually a fan of apocalyptic movies, but I couldn’t stop watching this one. The cast was fantastic, which helped, but the plot was so puzzling and intriguing, which made a powerful mix. I had to know what was going on in the world and even though I was just as clueless as the characters, I somehow felt like I was a part of this, luring me in that much more.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jaw-dropping scenes.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but so many scenes had me on the edge of my seat. They were eerie, shocking, and absolutely fantastic. This may be the best Netflix movie I have seen in a long time. It really did a great job from the music to the special effects. Everything fell into this place seamlessly, making this such a compelling watch.

Sticks the landing!

I absolutely LOVED the ending of this film. Sure, it didn’t answer most of my questions, but there was something so satisfying about it and there was an Easter egg in there that had me very excited! I think a lot of people will relate to it.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unanswered questions…

This wasn’t a major con, but I had so many questions by the time I got to the end of this film. I didn’t read the book either, but from my understanding, that doesn’t fully answer everything either. I guess it makes sense with the content, but since we spent quite a bit of time on certain aspects of this film, I just wanted a touch more to truly understand what was going on.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!

One of the best thrillers I have seen all year!

Tense, disturbing, and entertaining from start to finish. I never got a chance to breathe!

Even though this film was on the longer side, it never felt like it. I’d highly recommend giving this one a shot even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea. I loved it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and please feel free to share your thoughts on Leave the World Behind in the comments section!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HER NIGHT FROM HELL HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN…

After working the night shift, Ashley becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a local street gang, forcing her to come up with a plan to survive the night by turning the tables on them.

Ashley must fight for her life and take them out one by one if she wants to make it to morning…

My young adult revenge thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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5 Guilty Pleasure Thrillers to Enjoy while Staying at Home

Happy Throwback Thursday! Staying at home has really allowed me to enjoy a lot of new television series and movies. However, there are some old favorites that I wanted to return to. Netflix has recently been releasing some guilty pleasure Lifetime-like thrillers such as Secret Obsession and Dangerous Lies, which really got me thinking about some of my own personal favorite guilty pleasure thrillers.

While nothing compares to watching these films for the very first time, there is this rush I get whenever I watch them. Sure, some of them are somewhat predictable and have outrageous plots, but that’s why I love them. They are the perfect films to binge-watch staying at home while enjoying a nice glass of wine and a snack…or two.

Either way, these films will certainly provide you with some edge of your seat tension to shake things up while staying at home. Please note spoilers have been left out for your convenience. Enjoy!

My top 5 Guilty Pleasure Thriller films of all time are:

5

Red Eye

Red Eye
Image courtesy of HBO

Released in 2005, Red Eye stars Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy and is directed by Wes Craven. A lot of people forget about this movie, but I actually saw it in theaters and loved it!

Synopsis: Hotel manager, Lisa boards a plane and sits next to a charming stranger. Things seem to be going well until the stranger reveals that he has an ulterior motive for sitting with her. The plane ride is filled with unexpected twists and turns.

I have probably seen this movie over twenty times and while I know the plot very well now, I just can’t stop watching it. It’s over the top sometimes and predictable in certain moments, but the film pulls you in and brings you back to those edge of your seat moments without skipping a beat.

Where to watch: HBO demand

4

Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the enemy
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 1991, this film stars Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin. Before I had cable TV, this movie was always on as the Saturday night movie on The WB. I used to watch it all the time because I didn’t really have many other options, but I quickly became obsessed. It’s actually one of my mom’s favorite movies and I still think twice about keeping my towels in order. Watch out for that music…

Synopsis: An abused wife fakes her own death and tries to start her life over, but her husband attempts to track her down to make her life a living hell.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

3

A Perfect Getaway

Perfect Getaway
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 2009, A Perfect Getaway stars Milla Jovovich and Steve Zahn. This thriller has one of the best twists I have ever witnessed. Sure, I know the twist now, but I still love watching this movie. It has some really great stars in it, including Timothy Olyphant and Chris Hemsworth! Plus, the movie takes place in Hawaii! You can’t get much better than a vacation trip gone wrong when you’re stuck staying at home.

Synopsis: A newly married couple travel on their honeymoon in Hawaii, but quickly realize that they may be hiking with a dangerous threat. Secrets are revealed and their survival is put to the test.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

2

The Call

The Call Halle Berry
Image courtesy of Amazon Prime

Released in 2003, The Call stars Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin. I absolutely adore this movie! I have probably seen it more than all the others on this list and Halle Berry is beyond amazing as 911 operator, Jordan. This movie screams guilty pleasure thriller. It is fast paced and has a shocking ending that will leave you completely satisfied.

Synopsis: After a young woman meets her demise while on the phone with 911, Jordan is traumatized. She sticks to training new 911 operators, but when a similar call comes through from a young woman, she is forced to push her demons aside in order to try and save her before history repeats itself.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime with add on, VUDU, FANDANGONOW

1

Double Jeopardy

Double Jeopardy Movie
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 1999, Double Jeopardy stars Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. This is my go-to movie and probably the one that first got me interested in this guilty pleasure thriller genre. While there are certainly a lot of movies that fall into this category, there’s really nothing like Double Jeopardy. It stands in a class of its own and always will for me.

Synopsis: You can’t be convicted for the same crime twice. Ashley Judd’s character, Libby, eventually learns this when she is wrongfully convicted for the murder of her husband. After being released, she tries to track down her son and starts to learn that she may have been intentionally framed for her crime. Libby decides to get revenge while her parole officer tries to stop her.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

Which guilty pleasure thriller films do YOU enjoy most? 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on these movies and your favorites in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

PLAY IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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