I Can’t Tell if I Hate or Love-Hate the #1 Movie on Netflix
What did I just watch?
This new Netflix movie has my name written all over it. It stars two of my favorite actors, Greta Lee and Wagner Moura, both of whom have delivered powerhouse, award-worthy performances in the past. It’s a horror-thriller with a fun Bird Box or A Quiet Place apocalyptic premise. And it’s the number one movie on Netflix right now, meaning everyone is tuned in. So why was I so confused while watching it?
The Last House on Netflix follows a family of four as they wake up during a rainstorm to discover that it’s become impossible to leave their house. And a quick glance out the window at the neighbors’ homes reveals that they aren’t alone in this predicament. It’s a cool concept (likely from some kind of Netflix algorithm) that sadly can’t deliver in the way Bird Box and A Quiet Place do.
First of all, Lee and Moura are really good. This shouldn’t be a shock, as we’ve seen Lee dazzle over and over again in films like Past Lives and shows like The Studio, and Moura was recognized as the first Brazilian man to be nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars this year. If it weren’t for the acting prowess Lee and Moura bring to this movie, it would be absolutely unwatchable. Fortunately, they were able to hook me in by delivering nuanced performances, making it clear just how terrified their characters are to be in such a predicament.
But within minutes of the film’s start (it jumps right into the apocalyptic action), I was asking aloud, Why is Greta Lee in this? Does she owe a favor to Netflix? I know, I know, great actors are in mediocre movies all the time, but after the film’s success (hitting number one), it’s clear Netflix owes Lee a favor now.
The first half of the film is a bit slow, though this is certainly made up for towards the end in terms of action. It’s just that the “action” (no spoilers here) was more bonkers than it was enjoyable. Things really go off the rails during the movie’s climax, and I was left thinking, What the hell did I just watch?
And despite The Last House topping Netflix’s top ten, it seems viewers are equally as unenthused as I am. The film has a dismal 24 percent critic rating and a pitiful 28 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
There’s a fine line between hating something and love-hating it, so I’ll let you decide which side of the line you fall on with The Last House.
