Sam Esmail’s film, “The World After Us”, is causing debate among Netflix subscribers. What do viewers really think of the thriller starring Julia Roberts? Verdict.
After Mr. Robot and Homecoming – a series already hosted by Julia Roberts -, Sam Esmail is directing The World After Us, his second feature film, adapted from the novel by Rumaan Alam.
Just a few days after its release, the thriller already occupies first place in the Netflix rankings. It must be said that the casting is a dream and the film is causing a lot of talk.
The story follows a family whose vacation turns into a nightmare when the entire country is targeted by a cyberattack. The filmmaker, also a screenwriter, puts the spectators on numerous trails.
Who is behind these attacks? Why do animals react like this? Is this a paranormal phenomenon or a terrorist event? So many mysteries and theories that the film likes to multiply.
Well received by the cinema press – The World After Us gets an average of 3.6/5 on AlloCiné – what about the spectators? On AlloCiné, the average rating to date is 2.6/5. A quick overview of the different opinions, which are very divided.
Among the positive points, many note the atmosphere of the film, very anxiety-inducing, and the direction of Sam Esmail: “The staging is impressive and immersive, even if the director overuses camera effects, there are shots worthy of the greatest disaster films and forays into the realm of horror”, notes FroGirl.
Some highlight the gray areas deliberately left by the film, like Nath0301: “Others will find, like me, that what makes this story even more disturbing is precisely its side that is both bizarre and “plausible”. […]
Being attacked without knowing who your attacker is, not understanding anything about the events that hit us, remaining in total confusion and having to deal with this horrible uncertainty, that’s what most resembles reality..”
Frédéric Fabre adds: “ This film invites the viewer to accompany the doubt and the limit of the actors of madness when the unexplained occurs..”
On the side of the less convinced, most criticize the film for its rhythm, like Estonius: “Why give us a 2 hour 20 minute film when the story doesn’t justify it? Consequences are lengths and pompous blablas as uninteresting as they are endless.”
Many point the finger at the ending, judged not to live up to the ambitions of the thriller. “Open ending and terribly indigestible”, notes Ciné Feel. Philippe C adds: “Counter philosophy and pseudo-symbolic finale, without tail or head.”
Roger Vrignaud, for his part, writes: “I lost 2h30 and the only pleasure was seeing Julia Roberts again. Far too many unanswered questions for a disaster film that is a disaster”.
The best way to find out what The World After Us is really worth is to form your own opinion. Sam Esmail’s film is available on Netflix.