THE LAST HOUSE (2026) directed by Louis Leterrier
SYNOPSIS: A family of four is suddenly sealed inside their house with no way out and must work together to survive against both their dwindling resources and the mysterious, looming threat that is keeping them trapped.
REVIEW This is not one of those movies worth writing review about. But there is two things can be said here - character writing and the 'elephant in the room'.
CHARACTER The main man of the trapped family proudly self-proclaims himself as a good engineer in Act 1. Yet for the length of time they are trapped in the house, only after few years a 'good engineer' realised that the sewer pipeline underneath the house can serve as an escape route.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM In the early weeks of their trapped days, it is clear that the chimney can serve as another escape route. But it has been made to be too structurally unstable by the writers for the family to climb out and escape - lazy and convenient! The chimney is ultimately needed in the story for the family to set trap outside for their meat supply.
I do not know the purpose of this movie. We live in a zeitgeist where things are made just because it can be made - which is a dumb reason to start with.
THE DIRECTOR The director have Transporter 1 and 2 in his portfolio. Fast Forever and Fast X. Also the first Incredible Hulk in 2008. I have no idea it has descended into this. To my observation, todays directors do not have 100% say on their film. Best example I could think of is John Woo's 2024 film The Killer. It has nothing John Woo in it...except the doves. A film that you forget the moment it ends. Unlike the 1997 Face Off...(dats where the doves come from, they just took the cosmetics, and think they knew what makes a John Woo film lol)
Why I watched it? Coz I was stuck at home (oh the irony) and just play wuteva Netflix recommended first in the algo and saved time endlessly doomscrolling...
That is I still prefer going to the cinema...
