Netflix's much-anticipated psychological thriller Leave The World Behind has seemingly left some viewers unfulfilled ever since arrived on the streaming platform.
While the film garnered significant attention over the holiday season, it has also left many viewers divided due to its enigmatic ending.
The movie, directed and produced by Sam Esmail, follows a family's seemingly idyllic vacation in a luxurious villa, which takes a sinister turn when a cyberattack disrupts their electronic devices. To make matters worse, two unexpected strangers suddenly appear at their doorstep. The film's official synopsis teases a growing threat and the families' struggle to survive while navigating a collapsing world.
Have a look at the trailer below:However, some viewers found themselves unsatisfied with the film's conclusion, with some even dubbing it the "worst movie ending ever."
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), one person wrote: "Leave the world behind .. gotta have the worst ending ever."
"DO F***ING NOT watch Leave the world behind on Netflix 2.5 hours of my life I will never f**kin get back worst ending in the history of films ever," another added.
A third tweeted: "Leave the world behind. Worst ending I’ve ever seen. Don’t waste your time."
And a fourth unimpressed viewer added: "'Leave the world behind' had the worst ending …. Like ever."
WARNING: The rest of this article features spoilers for the movie, so turn away now if you haven't seen it.
The movie ends with an intriguing twist, as Rose, played by Farrah Mackenzie, sits down in a doomsday bunking and plays the final episode of the iconic TV show Friends.
As the credits roll and the familiar theme song plays, the world around the characters descends into chaos, with internet outages, falling planes, and inexplicable events. "So no one told you life was gonna be this way..."
Esmail, known for his work on Mr. Robot, drew inspiration from his experiences during the early days of the pandemic while working on the film. He explained to Netflix's Tadum: "I read the book [by Rumaan Alam] in the very, very early days of the pandemic, and I just remember that feeling of uncertainty was terrifying in a way that felt scarier than the monsters that you would see on TV or horror films that you would watch."
The film intentionally maintains a level of uncertainty, leaving breadcrumbs for the audience without giving away too much.
At the end of the movie, our main characters are all split up - and although many hints are dropped that they will eventually reunite, nothing is certain by the time the credits roll.
Esmail stated: "You want to leave enough breadcrumbs to [leave] the audience wanting more, but not give too much away where they can be ahead of you."
The subplot involving Friends plays a significant role in the film's conclusion, serving as a source of escapism for the character Rose amidst the chaos. Esmail explained: "In moments of crisis when we've lost sight of our common humanity, when we feel isolated, we do want to escape to comfort. And for Rose, I thought her journey wouldn't be complete until she watched the final episode of her favorite show."
The film's ending is not necessarily hopeful but contains glimpses of light in the darkness. Esmail shared: "There's a painting that's hung up on the end of the hallway before Rose goes down into the basement that says 'Hope begins in the dark.' As dark as it could get, as bleak as it can get, we can always strive to find some hope."
The author of the original book, Rumaan Alam, who also serves as an executive producer on the film, praised Esmail's ending, describing it as "so satisfying" to Variety. He emphasized that the conclusion is not meant as a joke but rather a reminder of the power of art and its ability to provide solace.
"The theatrical experience of watching this movie is so powerful because I’ve had the chance to see audiences respond to the ending three times now, and nobody really knows what to make of it. They’re like, is this funny? Is this scary? Is it really over? And I love that so much," he said.
For me, personally, I enjoyed the ending. After Rose shared the story about the man who died after ignoring the signs from God, I believe the ending is a lesson is seizing the moment and not waiting around.
While the other. characters find themselves at gunpoint and staring down a herd of deer, it is Rose who is scoffing junk food and watching her favorite show - all because she chose to get up and stop waiting around.
Leave The World Behind has certainly sparked discussion and debate with its unexpected ending, but what did you think? Let us know in the comments!
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