Okay, "Leave the World Behind" had me STRESSED

So, I finally watched "Leave the World Behind" and I'm still processing. The premise is simple enough – family goes on vacation, world goes bonkers – but the execution...whew. Definitely felt like your classic slow burn anxiety ride. Julia Roberts was... Julia Roberts. I love her, but I kinda felt like her performance was just her usual snarky self cranked up to 11. Ethan Hawke, as always, was the grounding force for me. He plays the dad so believably, desperately trying to keep things together when everything is falling apart. I honestly felt so bad for him. My favorite part of the whole thing, performance-wise, had to be Mahershala Ali. Just chef's kiss. The quiet intensity, the unspoken knowledge... he just oozed this unsettling calm that made him so captivating to watch. There's this scene where he's explaining his theories about what's happening, mostly talking to Ethan Hawke's character but with Julia Roberts basically scoffing at every word, and it's just mesmerizing. He delivers it with this quiet desperation that just chills you to the bone. He understood the assignment, for sure. I honestly don't know what to make of the ending. I'm not gonna spoil it, but it's... definitely an ending. Not sure if I loved it or hated it, but it definitely left me thinking, which is probably the point? And THAT'S kinda why I like it. The son's weird tick thing was never really explained, right? Like what WAS that about?? Still scratching my head. Overall, it's a good watch if you're in the mood to feel deeply unsettled. Don't expect neat resolutions or easy answers, but definitely expect some strong performances, especially from Ali. I'm gonna be thinking about this one for a while.