Netflix dropped its new apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind

Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer &#8216;Leave the World Behind&#8217; So Blue?

The world is seemingly ending and Julia Roberts hates human beings in Leave the
World Behind. When an apocalyptic thriller has an opening speech on the world
that ends with “I f**king hate people,” you would think the prominent thought in
a viewer’s mind would be: Why does she hate people so much or will they survive
through this? Yet, as I streamed the latest Netflix drop in the dead of the
night I only had one burning question: Why is everything so…blue?

If you haven’t yet watched Leave the World Behind, this is where you stop, watch
the movie, and then return. Major spoilers await you ahead.


EVERYTHING IS AMBIGUOUS IN LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, INCLUDING WHY JULIA ROBERTS…

…hates people and mistrusts Mahershala Ali’s George and Myha’la Herrold’s Ruth.
On one side, racism is hinted as the probable reason, especially when Roberts’
Amanda says, “They don’t look like they own this house.” However, she is not
entirely unreasonable when she is skeptical of the two strangers who knocked on
their vacation rental’s door in the middle of the night and claimed to be the
owners. George’s shiftiness and Ruth’s aggressive defense don’t help matters
either. But there is a bigger problem at hand: the world seems to be ending and
director Sam Esmail has used a lot of blue in this film.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

For those unaware, the 2-hour 21-minute movie based on a book of the same name
follows a New York-based family of Amanda, Clay, Archie, and Rosie Sanford on a
beach vacation in Long Island. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation from
the bustle of the city turns into a “vacation in hell” when two strangers
(George and Ruth) show up and claim there was a blackout in the city. What
follows is a bunch of events for which we get almost no explanation for.

From the menacing deers and pool-loving flamingos to ear-splitting noise and
Archie falling sick, a lot happens and they are all piled upon one another. Like
its source, the film doesn’t give any answers just a lot of speculations, which
is as accurate as it gets in emergencies like these. What Leave the World Behind
doesn’t grasp as well as the book is the depth of each character. Where the book
has each of them fleshed out, we are left wondering why Julia Roberts’ Amanda
loves R&B all of a sudden in the movie.

Well, we know why: Esmail wanted the film seeping in blue.


HOW SAM ESMAIL USED THE COLOR BLUE TO PORTRAY A SCARY WORLD

When you see the color blue, you think of the skies and the sea. A general
emotion associated with the color is peace, stability, and serenity. Yet,
nothing in Leave the World Behind can ever invoke such a feeling. On the
contrary, various character interactions and sequences in the film depict a cold
insensitivity: be it Rosie’s obsession with Friends and iconic couple Ross and
Rachel
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-five-iconic-moments-of-friends-on-a-break-couple-jennifer-aniston-and-david-schwimmer-aka-ross-and-rachel/]
or Clay’s laidback approach to everything. So why did Esmail choose to paint the
film in this color?

Well, Blue, when used in abundance, comes across as uncaring. And Esmail uses
the color a lot. You will see the blue in jeans, cardigans, jumpers, dresses,
cars, window panes, walls, and even the gramophone’s needle. The director went
as far as color-grading the frames in blue. None of these instances ever add any
warmth that the color is generally associated with.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Even the beach scene, with its blue sea and skies, had an unnerving premonitory
air with the haunting score until the sequence ended with a huge tanker
grounding on the shore as people ran amuck. The hallmark of the scene is how
everyone in the Sanford family has a dash (or more depending on the characters)
of blue in them–hinting at just how uncaring and cold each of them is, towards
each other and the world in general.

But the scene is special for one more reason.


THE BEACH SCENE FORESHADOWED THE ENDING PERFECTLY

Starting at the 11-minute mark of Leave the World Behind, the beach scene is the
first time we understand that maybe the Sanfords’ vacation may not turn out the
way they had envisioned. It also predicts how the film will end. Having checked
into their rental property, the family heads to the beach for some relaxation.
Clad in blue, they soon find a spot and settle down with their books, umbrellas,
etc. Parents are doing their thing while the kids enjoy the ocean. It doesn’t
take Rosie to notice (and later fixate) on the huge boat on the horizon.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

When she later notices the boat moving closer, Clay in his typical laidbackness,
goes into a tide on oil tankers. Here, the seating arrangement of each character
(Rosie shutting herself out from her family by watching Friends from earlier) is
worth noting. Archie and Clay are together, as they are in the final act.
Amanda, while still under the umbrella, is a little further away, lost in her
book. In the third act, she will be in the woods, off to find her missing
daughter.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Rosie, however, is completely outside the umbrella and away from her family,
fixated on the tanker. At the end of the movie, she is alone in Thornes’
property, binge-eating junk food and later watching Friends’ finale in the
bunker. Just like the sitcom and the deers, Rosie can’t stop obsessing over the
ship. This fixation is what makes her one of the most aware characters in the
story, apart from George. She knew the deers were trying to tell them something;
she knew the ship was moving closer. The latter proved to be true at the end of
the beach scene. The former is up for interpretation.

ALSO READ: Wonka (2023): Review-Timothee Chalamet Lends The Golden Touch to This
Confectioner&#8217;s Musical Delight 
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-wonka-2023-review-timothee-chalamet-lends-the-golden-touch-to-this-confectioners-musical-delight/]

What is not is Esmail’s use of the color blue. There was a creative choice. Or
maybe I’m just overthinking films again.

Parvathi Ajith

Comment

Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer &#8216;Leave the World Behind&#8217; So Blue? - Netflix Junkie

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Parvathi Ajith is a Hollywood news reporter and Editor at Netflix Junkie. So much is her love for reporting that she started her journey with an internship at New Indian Express where she covered all the hot news of the entertainment industry. With her prior experience of being an editor, she aims to do interviews and reviews here in NJ. While writing is her first love, there exists a second which is crime thrillers. Taking her love forward, Parvathi became a published author with her book 'The Rathores'.  Apart from this, she is always reading a crime thriller in her free time or just simply singing in between serious meetings that cheer the spirits of those around her. On a day she wants to relax, you will see her watching Demon Slayer, Brooklyn-99, or her all-time favorite, Runaway Bride.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-hollywood-news-why-is-julia-roberts-starrer-leave-the-world-behind-so-blue

Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer &#8216;Leave the World Behind&#8217; So Blue? - netflix-junkie

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The world is seemingly ending and Julia Roberts hates human beings in Leave the World Behind. When an apocalyptic thriller has an opening speech on the world that ends with &#8220;I f**king hate people,&#8221; you would think the prominent thought in a viewer&#8217;s mind would be: Why does she hate people so much or will they survive through this? Yet, as I streamed the latest Netflix drop in the dead of the night I only had one burning question: Why is everything so&#8230;blue?
If you haven&#8217;t yet watched Leave the World Behind, this is where you stop, watch the movie, and then return. Major spoilers await you ahead.
<h2>Everything is ambiguous in Leave the World Behind, including why Julia Roberts&#8230;</h2>
&#8230;hates people and mistrusts Mahershala Ali&#8217;s George and Myha&#8217;la Herrold&#8217;s Ruth. On one side, racism is hinted as the probable reason, especially when Roberts&#8217; Amanda says, &#8220;They don&#8217;t look like they own this house.&#8221; However, she is not entirely unreasonable when she is skeptical of the two strangers who knocked on their vacation rental&#8217;s door in the middle of the night and claimed to be the owners. George&#8217;s shiftiness and Ruth&#8217;s aggressive defense don&#8217;t help matters either. But there is a bigger problem at hand: the world seems to be ending and director Sam Esmail has used a lot of blue in this film.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-154251 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind.png" alt="" width="1544" height="814" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind.png 1544w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-300x158.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-1024x540.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-768x405.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-1536x810.png 1536w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-370x195.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-800x422.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-20x11.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-185x98.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-740x390.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-400x211.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-beind-91x48.png 91w" sizes="(max-width: 1544px) 100vw, 1544px" />
For those unaware, the 2-hour 21-minute movie based on a book of the same name follows a New York-based family of Amanda, Clay, Archie, and Rosie Sanford on a beach vacation in Long Island. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation from the bustle of the city turns into a &#8220;vacation in hell&#8221; when two strangers (George and Ruth) show up and claim there was a blackout in the city. What follows is a bunch of events for which we get almost no explanation for.
From the menacing deers and pool-loving flamingos to ear-splitting noise and Archie falling sick, a lot happens and they are all piled upon one another. Like its source, the film doesn&#8217;t give any answers just a lot of speculations, which is as accurate as it gets in emergencies like these. What Leave the World Behind doesn&#8217;t grasp as well as the book is the depth of each character. Where the book has each of them fleshed out, we are left wondering why Julia Roberts&#8217; Amanda loves R&amp;B all of a sudden in the movie.
Well, we know why: Esmail wanted the film seeping in blue.
<h2>How Sam Esmail used the color blue to portray a scary world</h2>
When you see the color blue, you think of the skies and the sea. A general emotion associated with the color is peace, stability, and serenity. Yet, nothing in Leave the World Behind can ever invoke such a feeling. On the contrary, various character interactions and sequences in the film depict a cold insensitivity: be it Rosie&#8217;s obsession with Friends and <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-five-iconic-moments-of-friends-on-a-break-couple-jennifer-aniston-and-david-schwimmer-aka-ross-and-rachel/">iconic couple Ross and Rachel</a> or Clay&#8217;s laidback approach to everything. So why did Esmail choose to paint the film in this color?
Well, Blue, when used in abundance, comes across as uncaring. And Esmail uses the color a lot. You will see the blue in jeans, cardigans, jumpers, dresses, cars, window panes, walls, and even the gramophone&#8217;s needle. The director went as far as color-grading the frames in blue. None of these instances ever add any warmth that the color is generally associated with.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-154248 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2.png" alt="" width="1815" height="799" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2.png 1815w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-300x132.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-1024x451.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-768x338.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-1536x676.png 1536w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-370x163.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-800x352.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-185x81.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-740x326.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-20x9.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-400x176.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-1600x704.png 1600w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-2-109x48.png 109w" sizes="(max-width: 1815px) 100vw, 1815px" />
Even the beach scene, with its blue sea and skies, had an unnerving premonitory air with the haunting score until the sequence ended with a huge tanker grounding on the shore as people ran amuck. The hallmark of the scene is how everyone in the Sanford family has a dash (or more depending on the characters) of blue in them&#8211;hinting at just how uncaring and cold each of them is, towards each other and the world in general.
But the scene is special for one more reason.
<h2>The beach scene foreshadowed the ending perfectly</h2>
Starting at the 11-minute mark of Leave the World Behind, the beach scene is the first time we understand that maybe the Sanfords&#8217; vacation may not turn out the way they had envisioned. It also predicts how the film will end. Having checked into their rental property, the family heads to the beach for some relaxation. Clad in blue, they soon find a spot and settle down with their books, umbrellas, etc. Parents are doing their thing while the kids enjoy the ocean. It doesn&#8217;t take Rosie to notice (and later fixate) on the huge boat on the horizon.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-154249 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1.png" alt="" width="1526" height="802" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1.png 1526w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-300x158.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-1024x538.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-768x404.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-370x194.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-800x420.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-20x11.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-185x97.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-740x389.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-400x210.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1-91x48.png 91w" sizes="(max-width: 1526px) 100vw, 1526px" />
When she later notices the boat moving closer, Clay in his typical laidbackness, goes into a tide on oil tankers. Here, the seating arrangement of each character (Rosie shutting herself out from her family by watching Friends from earlier) is worth noting. Archie and Clay are together, as they are in the final act. Amanda, while still under the umbrella, is a little further away, lost in her book. In the third act, she will be in the woods, off to find her missing daughter.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-154250 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind.png" alt="" width="1485" height="802" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind.png 1485w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-300x162.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-1024x553.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-768x415.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-370x200.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-800x432.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-20x11.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-185x100.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-740x400.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-400x216.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-89x48.png 89w" sizes="(max-width: 1485px) 100vw, 1485px" />
Rosie, however, is completely outside the umbrella and away from her family, fixated on the tanker. At the end of the movie, she is alone in Thornes&#8217; property, binge-eating junk food and later watching Friends&#8217; finale in the bunker. Just like the sitcom and the deers, Rosie can&#8217;t stop obsessing over the ship. This fixation is what makes her one of the most aware characters in the story, apart from George. She knew the deers were trying to tell them something; she knew the ship was moving closer. The latter proved to be true at the end of the beach scene. The former is up for interpretation.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-wonka-2023-review-timothee-chalamet-lends-the-golden-touch-to-this-confectioners-musical-delight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wonka (2023): Review-Timothee Chalamet Lends The Golden Touch to This Confectioner&amp;#8217;s Musical Delight </a>
What is not is Esmail&#8217;s use of the color blue. There was a creative choice. Or maybe I&#8217;m just overthinking films again.

Wonka (2023): Review-Timothee Chalamet Lends The Golden Touch to This
Confectioner’s Musical Delight 

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Leave-the-world-behind-FI.png

Netflix dropped its new apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind, starring Julia Roberts and it is so blue. Here's our take on why

Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer 'Leave the World Behind' So Blue? - Netflix Junkie

Parvathi Ajith is a Hollywood news reporter and Editor at Netflix Junkie. So much is her love for reporting that she started her journey with an internship at New Indian Express where she covered all the hot news of the entertainment industry. With her prior experience of being an editor, she aims to do interviews and reviews here in NJ. While writing is her first love, there exists a second which is crime thrillers. Taking her love forward, Parvathi became a published author with her book 'The Rathores'. Apart from this, she is always reading a crime thriller in her free time or just simply singing in between serious meetings that cheer the spirits of those around her. On a day she wants to relax, you will see her watching Demon Slayer, Brooklyn-99, or her all-time favorite, Runaway Bride.

https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Parvathi-Ajith.png

Netflix dropped its new apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind, starring Julia Roberts and it is so blue. Here&#039;s our take on why

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Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer &#039;Leave the World Behind&#039; So Blue?

https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-hollywood-news-why-is-julia-roberts-starrer-leave-the-world-behind-so-blue/

Why Is Julia Roberts Starrer ‘Leave the World Behind’ So Blue?

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