Leave No Trace
A traumatized veteran and his teenage daughter struggle to preserve their off-grid bond while society forces them to confront another way of living.
Overview
A poignant exploration of survival and the bond between father and daughter in the wild.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- austere
- reflective evening
- quiet weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's low-key, deeply empathetic treatment of trauma and family survival, especially the sensitive performances by Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Will and Tom live off the grid in the forests of Portland, Oregon, treating the natural environment as their homeland and sanctuary.
Will's survivalist isolation conflicts with Tom's developing need to determine how she wants to live.
Will's veteran-related trauma and post-traumatic stress shape his withdrawal and inability to function comfortably within ordinary institutions.
The film uses a low-key, empathetic style to depict forest life, social services, and the family's displacement.
Films like Leave No Trace, and why
The Rider
shared intimate family drama, wilderness setting, understated realism, and emotionally restrained treatment of trauma
Captain Fantastic
shared father child relationship, survivalist themes, grounded drama, and tension between unconventional living and social norms
Winter's Bone
shared quiet coming-of-age drama, rural isolation, parental dysfunction, and empathetic naturalistic performances
Movie Details
- Director
- Debra Granik
- Release Date
- 2018-06-29
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1416)
Cast
- Thomasin McKenzie
- Ben Foster
- Jeff Kober
- Dale Dickey
- Dana Millican
- Alyssa McKay
- David Pittman
- Bob Werfelman
- Isaiah Stone
- Michael J. Prosser
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Leave No Trace about?
- A traumatized veteran and his teenage daughter struggle to preserve their off-grid bond while society forces them to confront another way of living.
- What is Leave No Trace like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Leave No Trace as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Leave No Trace violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Leave No Trace.
- What did critics think of Leave No Trace?
- Critics broadly praised the film's low-key, deeply empathetic treatment of trauma and family survival, especially the sensitive performances by Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie.
- Which films are like Leave No Trace?
- Films with a similar feel include The Rider, Captain Fantastic, and Winter's Bone.
- How long is Leave No Trace?
- Leave No Trace runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Leave No Trace?
- In United States, Leave No Trace streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
