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This new Netflix film has been slammed by the critics but I don’t get why. One of the main criticisms is that it is M. Night Shyamalan lite but that’s totally unfair. I myself have been a Shyamalan apologist in the past (I really liked the widely maligned The Lady in the Water) but if this is a comparison you want to go with then this is actually a strong example of his type of ambiguous, trippy film making. I thought it superior to Shyamalan as it has none of the narrative overconfidence or laboured twilight zone leanings that The Sixth Sense director has shown of late.

I’m not sure this is even much like what he does anyway. There’s no surprise ending or supernatural/sci-fi bits and while there are some moments that raise questions along the way, it actually all works toward a fairly conclusive denouement that has been more than earned by what’s come before. There is nothing here that remains unexplained or open and the metaphorical element sits fairly lightly over everything that happens.

The story has a family, headed up by Julia Roberts’ Amanda and Ethan Hawkes’ Clay, who leave the city for the weekend only for there to be some kind of cyber attack that wipes out communications and leads to major transportation failures. Focusing on them and the father and daughter, played by Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold, who are forced to join them in the house they’ve rented, much of the film explores human dynamics and these scenes are as compelling as any of the disaster set pieces that are peppered through the film as the extent of the incident becomes apparent. The performances are all strong too with the motivations of the characters subtly changing throughout.

There is also a message here which has never really been true of Shyamalan’s work, not unless Old was trying to tell us to make the most of life and Split was saying to trust in your inner self. The title Leave the World Behind has multiple readings around social contact, societal prejudice, the environment and consumption of media and each has space to exist simultaneously.

The film is, I have to admit, too long but taken in chunks as it’s existence on streaming allows, it is worth you time. Only if you are having it as something to watch while you’re away from home, download it on to your device before you go. Just in case.