The Last House: A Post-Covid Thriller
The Last House, a new Netflix movie, is a thought-provoking thriller that explores the challenges of living in a post-Covid world. The film tells the story of a financially struggling Seattle family who finds themselves locked in their home due to a mysterious sealant in the rain. As the days turn into months, the family must navigate the difficulties of survival, mental health, and the unknown terrors outside their door.
The movie stars Wagner Moura and Greta Lee as the parents, Jason and Riley, who must find ways to keep their family safe and sane in a world that has been turned upside down. The film's portrayal of a family's struggles to cope with the lockdown is both relatable and unsettling, making it a compelling watch for audiences who are still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic.
The Pandemic's Impact on Film
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the film industry, with many movies and documentaries addressing the pandemic's aftermath. The Last House is part of a growing trend of post-Covid movies that explore the challenges of living in a locked-down world. Other notable examples include Mike Leigh's 2024 drama Hard Truths, which portrays a psychologically fractured woman struggling to cope with the pandemic's aftermath, and Ari Aster's 2020 satire Eddington, which fizzled at the box office due to its premature release.
The pandemic has also led to a surge in documentary filmmaking, with many documentaries exploring the pandemic's impact on different communities and industries. Matthew Heineman's documentary The First Wave, which was released in 2021, is a notable example of a film that provides a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the pandemic's aftermath.
A Solid Night In
The Last House is a solid night in, with a relatable itch being scratched in the lighter moments of early makeshift togetherness. The film's portrayal of a family's struggles to cope with the lockdown is both authentic and engaging, making it a compelling watch for audiences who are looking for a thought-provoking thriller. However, the film's transition into a sci-fi horror genre is less successful, with the movie's attempts to provide answers to the mysterious sealant and the terrors outside the door feeling unsatisfying and underwritten.
Despite its flaws, The Last House is a notable addition to the growing trend of post-Covid movies and documentaries. The film's exploration of themes such as survival, mental health, and the difficulties of living in a locked-down world is both timely and thought-provoking, making it a must-watch for audiences who are interested in exploring the pandemic's aftermath through film.