Based on the novel “My Abandonment” by Peter Rock, Debra Granik’s new film follows Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie), who live a simple, off-the-grid life in the lush woodland of Forest Park, on the edge of Portland, Oregon. They’re not on the run from anyone or anything per se, other than the PTSD which clearly troubles veteran Will. Rather, they are merely going about their lives in the way that they feel best suits them, foraging and surviving without causing harm or disruption to anyone. All they desire is to be left alone and to live quietly and invisibly. When a chance encounter leads to their home being discovered, they are thrown to the mercy of social services and a battle to adapt to the new lives into which they are forced.

Whilst the narrative burns slowly and focuses on the dynamic between father and daughter and their relationship with the world at large, there is a sense of overwhelming unease that pulses through the entirety of Leave No Trace. The tone of the movie starts in The Survivalist territory and ends somewhere closer to Room, as Will and Tom are forced to amend their style of living and their mindsets. Whilst she is always furiously loyal to her father, as Tom discovers life away from the woods, it is clear that something has to give, and the friction starts to shift.

Just as she did with Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik has uncovered an absolute gem in Thomasin McKenzie. The New Zealand teenager is outstanding as she transitions from a nervous wood-dweller into a curious, increasingly confident young woman who is intrigued by the benign strangers she encounters. This is a film of succinct dialogue, and McKenzie portrays her emotions as much through her body-language and facial expressions as with her words. In one scene, where her world is about to be turned on its head once again, she holds two ornamental horses, before placing them down gently. It is a seemingly straightforward and insignificant moment, yet the sense of yearning and sadness it brings is palpable and is a microcosmic illustration of a dazzling performance which suggests we will be seeing plenty more from McKenzie in the coming years.

Despite the unusual lack of antagonists, Leave No Trace still manages to intensely grip as it offers a heartbreaking window into the lives of those who find it impossible to fit in and those who long to do just that.

Leave No Trace hits UK cinemas on 29th June. For other territories, check local listings.

Review by Bobby Townsend.