Leave (2011)
Henry Harper is a successful novelist who has it all. But after surviving a recent trauma he finds himself haunted by a dream that terrifies him. Convinced that the only way to understand what the dream means is to write his way through it, Henry decides to go to a remote second home to begin work on his next novel, a thriller. While on his way there he encounters a strangely familiar drifter who confronts him with information that threatens to turn everything he knows to be true, upside down. Written by producer
Watch Trailer
Cast
Reviews
Stylish but barely mediocre overall
This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
Ughhh this movie mildly depressed me.. and that's a compliment. It struck a personal chord with me, I guess it's because I know someone who has gone through something similar to Rick Gomez's character Henry. Most movies would show you the perspective of the people standing on the sidelines watching someone they know suffer from an illness, but in this movie you're given the perspective of the sick person himself, and it was portrayed realistically, emotionally, and psychologically disturbing. It gives you an insight of what they're going through, how it's affecting their lives, and how it's impacted them physically and mentally. And obviously it's not easy. Throughout the film I was just scared for and at the same time, captivated by Henry's struggling. It hit the feels, really. I'm still thinking about it.I absolutely love the work done here. Rick Gomez and Frank John Hughes did a brilliant job both in writing the story and their performance. My admiration for them only grew even more, truly talented actors and so underrated by the industry. Great film.
Let me first say that I believe Frank John Hughes and Rick Gomez to be two of the truly underrated actors in Hollywood, to say nothing of the fact that they were also responsible for producing and writing this masterpiece. I'd watch anything the two of them put out. Frank John Hughes could have held his own in this film with his eyes alone. He is brilliant. Rick Gomez plays his role to perfection, using his signature blend of sarcasm & dry humor, mixed with an incredibly heart-wrenching display of raw emotion. His versatility makes him one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood. LEAVE is a film that I can watch over and over again, regardless of the fact that I already know the ending.
I try not to box independent films into single genres, and in this case that helped me enjoy the movie more as it unfolded. I happen to like movies that employ psychological drama, though others might consider it a ploy, because it's really the mind that defines so much of experience. But there is a mystery/thriller element here, too. The two main actors gave strong performances and the drama felt authentic. Having spent most of my life in the Northeast, I was reminded of the tough, dry exterior that men of that region often project, that belie what they might be going through inside. I was able to feel the protagonist's struggle even though the film does not enter into sentimental territory.
I am 61 years old, rented this movie, hoping it wasn't a "yawner." Well, I was not disappointed. I loved every minute of it. But don't leave the room to get some popcorn or coke without putting it on "pause." You will miss something important. The acting was great and the plot kept me guessing throughout the entire movie. I went from happy to sad to happy to sad to scared for the main character to happy for the main character. I want my sister to watch this movie and my daughter and my sons and my grandchildren. So few movies have such substance. I loved some of the lines from the movie but won't do any spoilers here. Just watch it!