Rotten Tomatoes is a pretty reliable source for determining whether a movie is worth watching or not, with the odd exception, of course. However, not many films make it into the 100 club, which is an ode to movies with a perfect “Tomatometer” score. The tomatometer is the critics’ rankings, so these films are the best of the best. But only one can make the top spot, and this drama thriller released in 2018 takes the crown – Leave No Trace, and it is available to stream on Netflix.
Leave No Trace follows a father and his 17-year-old daughter who live an ideal existence in a vast urban park in Portland, Oregon, until a small mistake derails their lives forever.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland.”
The film is directed by Debra Granik with a script adapted by Granik and Anne Rosellini based on Peter Rock’s 2009 novel My Abandonment, which is based on a true story.
It is the most reviewed film with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
One reviewer said: “Ben Foster gives the performance of his career – it’s a knockout. Leave No Trace doesn’t have a false note in it.”
Another added: “Leave No Trace is a film that may have slipped under the radar, but it is worth seeking out because, like Lynne Ramsay’s stunning You Were Never Really Here, this is a testament to the craftsmanship and unique vision of a female filmmaker.”
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote: “In its best moments, Leave No Trace invites you to simply be with its characters, to see and experience the world as they do. Empathy, the movie reminds you, is something that is too little asked of you either in life or in art.”
The film has made it onto many critics’ top 10 lists.
Leave No Trace is available to stream on Netflix.