The Delgado family—Jason, Ann, and their two children—find themselves in an unimaginable situation. One day, their home, along with every other house in their neighborhood, is sealed shut by an unknown force. The relentless rain outside hides ominous silhouettes, and the family is left to wonder what lurks beyond their windows. This is the premise of The Last House a Netflix film directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Matthew Robinson.
The idea for the film came to Robinson two years before the COVID pandemic, inspired by a moment of play with his son’s toy binoculars. “I picked up these plastic toy binoculars,” Robinson recalls, “and I had this thought: what if one day I needed these binoculars to survive?” This simple question evolved into a story about survival, family bonds, and the power of togetherness.
The Mystery of the Rain Creatures
The film opens with a quote from Arthur C. Clarke: “How inappropriate to call this planet ‘Earth,’ when clearly it is ‘Ocean.’” This sets the stage for the enigmatic creatures that have sealed the family inside their home. The creatures, referred to simply as “the creatures” by the filmmakers, are suggested to come from the ocean depths. Their abilities and powers are tied to water, and their presence is felt but rarely seen.
Director Louis Leterrier explains that the creatures have been on Earth far longer than humanity. “They’ve been there way before us,” he says. “We are living on their planet.” The creatures’ emergence is a response to human actions—overconsumption, pollution, and rising global temperatures. “We think that it’s an invasion movie,” Leterrier notes, “but we realize that we’re the aliens.” The creatures are reclaiming their own world, forcing humans to learn how to share it.
The Delgado Family’s Survival Strategies
The Delgado family’s journey is a testament to their resilience and ingenuity. Jason, an engineer, uses his skills to create elaborate traps and systems to sustain the family. The chimney becomes a crucial lifeline, allowing them to catch animals and grow vegetables. This “chimney fishing” technique, as the filmmakers call it, is just one example of the family’s resourcefulness.
Time weighs heavily on the family. The first days are manageable, but as weeks turn into months and then years, the challenges become more daunting. The family’s home is transformed into a lifeboat, with every available piece repurposed for survival. The house’s condition deteriorates over the five years, reflecting the family’s desperate struggle to adapt and endure.
The Final Confrontation and a New Beginning
After five years of confinement, the creatures finally breach the family’s home. The Delgados are prepared, having fashioned weapons from everyday objects. However, they are not prepared for the creature flooding the house, which nearly kills them. Jason uses his harpoon to trap the creature, but instead of killing it, they opt for a humane approach, freeing the creature from its restraints.
This act of empathy leads to a surprising turn of events. The creature leaves the house unsealed, allowing the family to venture outside for the first time in five years. The rain stops, and the creatures jump into a hole left by the collapsed house, never to be seen again. The Delgados name a boat after their beloved family dog, Cassidy, and sail away into the unknown, sending a radio message out into the world. “Day 1” appears on the screen, signaling a new chance for the family.
The film leaves many questions unanswered, but Robinson offers some insights. “By the Delgados granting them peace and understanding,” he says, “I think they wanted to reciprocate that.” The creatures, like the family, are afraid and unsure of each other. In a moment of empathy, they realize they aren’t that different. The family’s sense of peace and calm comes from knowing they have each other, no matter what scary things lie ahead.
