Leave

On a positive note, this was a well made film. It looked great, great shots, good sound... all that jazz. Unfortunately I would have to say that is about all I can say as far as positives go.

I would call this a slow burn, but it didn't even get to a burn... it never even ignited. It was belaboringly slow and nothing of interest or intrigue happened until the very end, I'm talking like the last 1/5th, and even that was meh.

I also think part of the problem was the main actress. She wasn't bad or distracting, she was just incredibly bland. She gave me almost nothing as far as character goes leaving me aloof towards this unrelatable person, walking away feeling like I just watched an entitled wet rag or piece of cardboard.

I don't want to sound like a hater, this isn't a BAD film... it is just incredibly underwhelming lol I hate saying this but for ME it was a bit of a waste of time, probably would not recommend.

This movie is terrible. I'm not sure where to even begin. The lead character is annoying and has no redeeming qualities. I am not impressed with the lead actress's acting ability. The decisions made by the lead character make no sense.

The story ? It is barely believable. The sound was off, too; sometimes people were whisper quiet, other times the voices were amplified.

I'm not sure what is going on with Shudder, but, this movie is one of a long line of Shudder originals recently that have been subpar at best.

I give it 3 stars because other than the lead actress, the rest of the actors do a good job. The scenery was also pretty.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Firstly, this movie ain't as bad as the negative reviews here would have you believe. While it was somewhat predictable in spots and felt like a movie that could have been made in the 80's or 90's, the storyline was still interesting and the actress in the lead role I thought was pretty good. I would have probably enjoyed this more at the Cineplex but, as a streaming movie, it's worthy of at least checking out when you're in the mood for an old-school suspense/horror flick. So, keep an open mind next time you can't seem to find a scary flick in the vast world of streaming horror and at least check out the trailer.

Hunter seeks to understand her heritage after she was left orphaned in a cemetery. She flies to Norway thinking she knows who her mother is. What unfolds is a light version of "The Girl with a..." series, just less intense and less polished. Hunter ignores all the obvious signs of danger as she's hell bent on finding answers to her questions about being orphaned. The resolution has only minor supernatural elements, and we are left with only the horrors of humanity (including attempted rape). The acting is decent, production good, and the over quality of the film is fine. But, it lacks much in terms of genuine suspense or horrific elements. Worth a watch if a calm film with moments of something like intensity is to your liking.

Leave (2022) is a Norwegian movie that was released to the US (and added to Shudder) today and tells the tale of an orphaned young lady who tracks her real family back to Norway. She finds her family home, her mothers things including her journal and hears the story of how she became an orphan. As she gets to know her family better she uncovers why her mom was the way she was and why her life may be at risk.

This movie was directed by Alex Herron in his directorial debut and stars Alicia von Rittberg (Fury), Herman Tømmeraas (Ragnarok), Ellen Dorrit Petersen (Blind), Morten Holst (A Royal Affair) and Christine Donlon (Escape Room).

The storyline is fairly cliche, straightforward and unimaginative. There were elements that had potential, but the horror elements relied on human attacks and interactions and just felt like sick people in life more than "horror." The main character was also frustrating at times where when the family gets weird it's time to be out, but of course she wants to stay. I didn't feel the backstory of the mother was as intense or creepy as intended either.

Overall, this is a disappointing addition to the horror genre that's not really worth your time. I would score this a 3.5/10 and recommend skipping it.