Does a movie with a viral marketing campaign like having people live in a billboard live up to the hype? Here is my review for The Last House.
The Last House is billed as a sci-fi thriller on Netflix, and the premise of this film is not what I expected in the slightest.
The Stiff Setup
This movie gets right into it from the start, introducing a blended family who will be trapped in this old, decaying home. Even though it kicks off immediately, I still had four false starts when trying to watch this film. The aspect of the movie that is arguably the most important was the weakest: the family dynamic.
“How are we expected to stay trapped in this house for 112 minutes if even the family doesn’t want to be there?”
The family dynamic itself just didn’t feel genuine. I was confused as to whether it was a stepfather situation or a marriage in decline. Either way, the acting among them felt stiff. We are talking about a cast that includes Greta Lee and Wagner Moura, actors I have seen deliver incredible performances before, but here there was just no chemistry. It took me by surprise to see them feel so wooden early on, and it had me genuinely concerned. The kids, while they do have a few amusing moments, were no better. I question who wrote the daughter to act like a 40-year-old woman from such an early age.
Does the acting get any better, or did I just stick it out? The acting does get a bit better as the story progresses, but that initial stiffness remains, only replaced by a somewhat more interesting premise. Usually, especially with Netflix, I will give up after the first try if a movie doesn’t hold my attention. But I gave this movie four chances! All because the viral marketing campaign had me thinking, “There has to be something more to this.” And I was right, because the premise shifts just in time to make me glad I somehow stuck it out.
The Thematic Shift
Without spoiling anything, there is a specific point where things really take a turn. It shifts from a film about a family coming together under terrible circumstances to a pure survival story featuring some clear mental decay. The premise set up by the marketing becomes something else entirely.
“It evolves into a message about how humans negatively impact nature and society, suggesting that if something else took over, maybe it would be for the better.”
I won’t dig into that too much because I don’t want to give it away. If you predicted what they are essentially fighting against, let me know in the comments, because it definitely caught me off guard.
The story tries to dabble in some mythos and fantasy elements that don’t really go anywhere. Instead, we finish off with the family essentially having a Home Alone-style battle. But honestly, it ends at a place that is much better than I expect from most Netflix originals. I didn’t know how they would close this film out, and just as the premise surprised me, the ending surprised me too.
The Verdict
My biggest issue with writing this review is trying to avoid spoilers. I want you to go on this ride the same way I did: zero expectations, total confusion, and just wondering, “How will this end?”
Overall, I thought it was a great movie that belongs on streaming. My expectations for Netflix movies tend to be low, but they did a good job on the film and an absolutely incredible job on the marketing campaign. Netflix may have just found its new hook! This is one of the few Netflix movies I can see myself rewatching, and that is saying a lot.
Have you seen The Last House? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and tell me what other upcoming Netflix movies you are looking forward to.