Netflix’s The Last House is presented as a sci-fi survival thriller in the tradition of Steven Spielberg, despite not being made by him. Directed by Louis Leterrier, it centres on the Delgado family, whose home becomes impossible to leave shortly before Christmas as a mysterious force connected to rainfall seals every exit; the same appears to be happening across their neighbourhood. The review argues that the film’s strength lies in making this extraordinary danger feel immediate through a believable, close-knit suburban family.

Jason and Ann Delgado, played by Wagner Moura and Greta Lee, bring existing pressures into their confinement: Jason is unemployed and struggling to provide, while Ann is determined to protect their children from the psychological effects of being trapped. Their children, Graham and Ruth, and the family dog help establish the domestic bonds that make the threat more affecting. The film reveals the family’s predicament within its first 20 minutes, avoiding a slow build-up and instead focusing on how prolonged isolation tests them.