Leave the World Behind – Could the Cyberattack Blackout Really Happen?

Spoiler Alert: This article reveals key aspects of "Leave the World Behind." This captivating movie engages viewers with a narrative that seamlessly merges the realms of fiction and plausible real-world events. Its portrayal of a devastating cyberattack resulting in a countrywide power outage has ignited extensive conversations and fears among its audience. This haunting question – "Could a similar widespread cyberattack and blackout actually happen?" – resonates in an era where digital threats loom large over our interconnected world. The film's compelling narrative and timely theme have propelled it to the top spot on Netflix, capturing the attention of a global audience. The film not only entertains but also invites us to ponder the vulnerabilities of our modern technological landscape and the potential consequences of its failure.

Where to Watch Leave the World Behind

“Leave the World Behind," debuted at the AFI Fest on May 12, 2023, and later hit select cinemas on November 22, 2023. The film transitioned to digital, with Netflix launching it on their platform on December 8, 2023. As of now, the movie can exclusively be streamed on Netflix.

What Is Leave the World Behind About?

Sam Esmail, the acclaimed creator of "Mr. Robot," directs this apocalyptic thriller featuring Julia Roberts as Amanda and Ethan Hawke as her husband Clay. The couple, along with their children, Archie (portrayed by Charlie Evans) and Rose (played by Farrah Mackenzie), rent a luxurious home for a weekend getaway. Their plans are abruptly disrupted when two unexpected visitors, G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la), arrive at night. Claiming to be the owners of the house, they bring ominous news of a cryptic cyberattack and seek shelter. As the crisis escalates, both families are thrust into an increasingly terrifying situation, compelling them to confront their roles in a world on the brink of collapse. Adapted from Rumaan Alam's National Book Award-nominated novel, "Leave the World Behind," is a collaboration between Esmail Corp, Red Om Films, and Higher Ground Productions, the production company of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Leave the World Behind Recap and Summary

As a reminder, the following is a synopsis of the plot for the movie “Leave the World Behind.” If you intend to watch the movie spoiler-free, read no further.

The film opens with Amanda Sanford, a woman with a cynical outlook, spontaneously deciding to take her family on an unplanned vacation to a rented Airbnb house in Long Island. Her family includes her husband Clay, a professor, and their two children, Rose and Archie, who are both heavily invested in technology. During a routine grocery store visit, Amanda notices a bearded man purchasing large quantities of water and canned goods, sparking her curiosity.

Upon arriving at the Airbnb, the family struggles with no cellular connectivity, which particularly affects Rose, who misses watching the final episode of her favorite show, "Friends." The family's attempt at relaxation is further disrupted by an unexpected sight of a grounded oil tanker while at the beach and a police officer at the scene sharing that similar incidents have recently occurred with other oil tankers bound for US coasts. This disruption is coupled with their non-functional TV and Wi-Fi back at the house.

In a surprising turn of events, the house's actual owners, George H. Scott (G.H.) and his daughter Ruth, show up that night, explaining their return due to a blackout in the city. Despite Amanda's initial mistrust, Clay allows them to stay after G.H. compensates them with $1,000.

The next morning, Amanda discovers several alarming news alerts on her phone about widespread blackouts and potential hacker involvement. Meanwhile, Clay's attempt to seek answers in town is futile as he encounters confusing and disturbing scenes, including a woman in distress and leaflets with threatening messages dropped from a drone.

G.H. uncovers a horrific scene at a neighboring property and an airplane crash site on the beach with bodies and wreckage, which is followed up by another crash which occurs at the same site while he is still present, causing a wave of water that soaks his outfit. He lies to his daughter and Amanda about his wet attire, attributing it to a fall in a swimming pool. Later, he shares with Amanda his unsuccessful attempt to use a satellite phone and the details of the plane crashes.

The situation escalates when Clay returns with one of the leaflets, which Archie partially translates as a threat against America. The family decides to flee to Amanda's sister in New Jersey but is forced back due to chaos on the highways caused by self-driving Tesla cars driving themselves off of dealership lots and crashing with one another, causing an impassable blockade on the only available expressway off the island.

That night, G.H. confides in Amanda about his suspicions of a government conspiracy and the two grow closer, yet resist acting on their feelings. Concurrently, Ruth, in a troubling interaction with Clay, falsely accuses him of inappropriate intentions, and expresses her belief that her mother, who was on a business trip, might be dead.

The next morning brings more distress as Rose goes missing and Archie suffers from a mysterious ailment causing his teeth to fall out. G.H. leads them to the survivalist, Danny, who suggests that a microwave weapon might be causing their afflictions. Amanda heroically saves Ruth from a dangerous encounter with deer. Danny agrees to assist Archie in exchange for payment and directs them to a bunker prepared for catastrophic events.

In a revelation, G.H. admits to Clay his belief that a political coup is underway, contributing to the societal breakdown and technological disruptions they are experiencing. Amidst these revelations, Amanda and Ruth witness the bombing of New York City. In a twist, Rose discovers the bunker and finds solace in watching the finale of "Friends," while outside, the reality of a war involving radiological weapons looms.

Leave the World Behind Ending Explained

The conclusion of "Leave the World Behind" has left audiences divided. Some viewers feel that the movie's ending is too abrupt and lacking in closure after its lengthy storyline, while others appreciate its subtlety and alignment with the film's overarching themes of uncertainty and unresolved crises.

In the film's final scenes, Rose discovers the bunker mentioned by Danny, complete with supplies, entertainment, and a collection of DVDs, notably including "Friends." She watches the final episode of the show, leading into the closing credits with its theme song. Unlike Rumaan Alam's novel, where Rose returns to her family with supplies from the house, the film closes with an aerial view of New York City being bombed, leaving the characters isolated and unaware of each other's locations. Rose remains in the bunker, Amanda and Ruth search for her in the woods, and G.H., Clay, and Archie are seen leaving Danny’s place. The film does not show a potential reunion or a resolution to their perilous situation.

The ambiguous and divisive ending has been seen by some as a commentary on contemporary society's reliance on escapism through mediums like television or TikTok during global crises.

In a Variety interview, author Alam expressed his fascination with the film's ending, noting its ability to evoke mixed reactions about whether it's humorous, frightening, or conclusively over. Sam Esmail, the director, also shared his thoughts in a Vulture interview, explaining that the ending was designed to spark discussion rather than neatly resolve the plot. He emphasized that the film respects its audience by not offering a straightforward reunion or resolution.

Esmail elaborated on the decision to withhold a scene of the families reuniting in the bunker, suggesting that such a conclusion would be unsatisfying for this particular story. He pointed out that the film, unlike typical disaster movies, doesn't end on a note of reassurance that everything will be alright, reflecting its unique narrative style.

Could the Cyberattack Blackout in Leave the World Behind Really Happen?

The film leaves many viewers asking the terrifying question, “Could Leave the World Behind happen in real life?” This concern is particularly relevant today, given the frequent news reports of data breaches and ransomware attacks. Adding to the intrigue is former President Barack Obama's involvement in the production and his contributions to the script, as discussed by director Sam Esmail in a Vanity Fair interview. Esmail shared insights into adapting the book for the screen, mentioning how Obama’s experience helped refine the script's realism. Esmail admitted to exaggerating and dramatizing events, but Obama's feedback indicating only minor inaccuracies was unexpectedly alarming for the director.

So, is the scenario in "Leave the World Behind" a real possibility? The answer is most likely no. The movie portrays a rapid and comprehensive failure of critical systems, including the power grid, cable, internet, radio, and telecommunications, with services like navigation and self-driving vehicles also being compromised.

While elements of the film are grounded in reality, with past incidents involving hackers probing electricity networks and significant cyberattacks like the Mirai malware disrupting major websites, the consensus among security experts suggests that a large-scale, simultaneous, and prolonged cyberattack on all critical technological infrastructures is highly improbable. Jesse Roberts, SVP of Cybersecurity at Compass IT Compliance, echoed this sentiment in a recent interview, underscoring the low likelihood of such an extensive and coordinated cyber assault successfully occurring all at once:

The critical infrastructure in the U.S., including power plants, internet lines, and water utilities, operates through decentralized systems. An attack would need to compromise hundreds if not thousands of individual electricity operators to match the scale of attack depicted in the film. Furthermore, America has proactively fortified its satellite defenses through initiatives like the Space Force IA-Pre program, enhancing cybersecurity measures. The film also glosses over an important reality: many of these systems have robust incident response plans and backup failsafes. This oversight amplifies the fictional aspect, as it's highly improbable that all these systems would be simultaneously compromised and their contingency measures would also all fail. Regarding vehicle vulnerabilities, the scenario where self-driving Teslas are hacked in the film is highly improbable, as it would require operational GPS systems, which were reportedly disabled during the attacks earlier in the film. While tankers utilizing autopilot could potentially be disrupted, the presence of a captain allows for manual intervention and control. Additionally, there are no confirmed instances of manned aircraft being remotely controlled by hackers, at least that the public has been made aware of.

In Conclusion

“Leave the World Behind” serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of cyberattacks and their potential impact on our lives. For business leaders concerned about safeguarding their organizations against such threats, Compass IT Compliance offers expert guidance and solutions. By partnering with Compass IT Compliance, businesses can take proactive steps to assess, mitigate, and manage their cybersecurity risks, ensuring they are well-prepared to face the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital landscape. To explore how Compass IT Compliance can assist your organization, feel free to reach out to us.