Does the dog die in ‘The Last House’? Netflix sci-fi thriller’s ending explained
‘The Last House’ is currently streaming on Netflix after being released on August 7. But there is something pet parents should know before pressing play. Some things are simply unforgivable to pet owners, like an animal dying. (Horrible) Spoiler ahead! That’s why it is necessary to inform those viewers that the sci-fi thriller features the death of a dog. ‘The Last House’ is about a family, the Delgados, that gets trapped inside their home during a storm. The family tries to break down the doors and windows, but all their attempts prove useless. Soon, they start facing the problem of diminishing food and supplies, which unfortunately includes medicines, too. It is revealed that the family dog is suffering from a serious heart condition. And because the family does not have the medicine to help him, viewers, in one scene, find him lying on the floor and struggling to get up.
To relieve the dog from his suffering, Jason (Wagner Moura), takes it upon himself to come up with a solution. He takes the dog to the garage and shoots him there while tearing up. Back to the movie’s plot, it turns out that the family was not the only one trapped, as their neighbors were also unable to get out of their houses. During the storm, silhouettes were seen moving through the rain outside, which were addressed as the “creatures.” But they were not extraterrestrial species. They were revealed to be ancient ocean dwellers that had been living on Earth before humans. Because of pollution and overconsumption by humans, they came to the surface.
So, they were not the aliens, we, humans, were the actual aliens in the movie. Viewers see the Delgados struggling through the first few months as they try to survive. Then, the film suddenly jumps forward in time, and audience discovers that the family has been confined for more than five years. Throughout all those years, they survive through “chimney fishing” and water-collection system. Because their chimney cap falls away, they start building traps and catching animals through it. They also repurpose almost everything in their house, be it clothing, furniture or kitchen tools. In the end, the creatures spare the family by opening the doors after the Delgados choose not to fight.
Throughout the entire runtime of the film, viewers see the family trying to control and attack them. But then Ruth (Riley Chung) realizes that those entities were trying to communicate with them. Jason puts his weapon away and decides to trust his daughter’s judgment. The creatures want humans to live together with them rather than destroy the world for their own greed. So, after deciding to trust and coexist, the family proves to the creatures that humans are capable of understanding them. Hence, they are allowed to live. It’s not confirmed if the Delgados are the only ones who survived, as the movie leaves that question unanswered. But a scene just before the credits absolutely teases that possibility. Ruth is seen speaking into a radio, asking, “Are there any other survivors out there?” A voice answers, “Hello?” Could Netflix be planning a sequel? For now, the streamer has not announced any follow-up.