Have y'all checked out The Last House on Netflix yet? It definitely gets some much needed heavy lifting from its stars, but honestly, it felt a little set up to fail.
The film's premise is that everyone gets locked into their homes. No one can escape from doors, windows, etc, no matter how they try. The issue narratively is that the "Why" and "How" of this problem is VASTLY more interesting than anything the movie can deliver in the 3rd act. We don't get a satisfying answer to that "why" and the "how can they escape" falls flat in part due to acts 1 and 2 being drawn out, but also because... how to we actually answer this in a satisfying way? This is the problem with "Mystery Box" shows and movies; worlds where the hook is this big ol' secret or puzzle at the jump that stalls or ultimately fails to give us answers.
I will give The Last House tremendous credit for immediately jumping into its mystery, but nothing that happens is more interesting than that potential explanation. I will say that Wagner Moura is fabulous in this but frankly, he's fabulous in everything. He really saves what could have been disastrous from the jump, so its extremely fortunate he's the heart and soul of this film. There's definitely worthwhile moments here. There are som great visual examples of alluding to a threat being far more effective than actually showing it, so I do think this is one worth watching for those moments... but then when you do see it... well. Remember when you saw the alien in Signs? It feels a little like that. Ultimately, The Last House makes sense being a streamer. I just wish that this streaming features had more time and care delivered to them.
Would love to know what you guys think of this one!