Review of Leave No Trace (2018) by Ed D — 24 Jan 2019

Taking a stripped back, minimalistic approach, thanks in no part to the fact that 40% of the dialogue from the original script was omitted, Leave No Trace is a subtly affecting story of a parent and their child.

It may occasionally be too slow and Terrence Malicky for its own good, with long lingering shots on trees and branches for no other reason than they look good, but it's the performances and reliance on expression rather than words that make it so powerful.

Sometimes a character will utter a short phrase, and the leads are so adept that just a few glances or movements of the head are enough to let us know what they're feeling. It's a story of letting go, of maturity and of paternal love, even if the latter can occasionally be more destructive than nurturing.

The performances of Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie are the main reason to see it, but it's also got fantastic cinematography, touching moments and a bond that is constantly tested.