Netflix film ‘The Last House’ uses practical effects for sea monsters

For the Netflix film ‘The Last House’, directed by Louis Leterrier, production designer Kevin Jenkins and his team utilized practical effects rather than CGI to create deep-sea monsters.

The decision to use silicone suits, animatronics, and real water tanks was driven by the technical difficulty of simulating realistic fluid dynamics digitally. Jenkins noted that when a 180-kilogram silicone suit is placed in 4.54 million liters of water, the fluid dynamics are real, providing authentic shadows, water displacement, and physical presence for actors and lighting crews.

The creatures feature complex biological designs, including bioluminescent undertones and translucent skin made from durable, swelling-resistant silicone. To facilitate movement, the suits utilize carbon fiber skeletons and underwater pneumatic actuators to control facial movements and jaw tension.