Aahana Swrup
In ‘The Last House,’ time proves to be as much of an enemy to survival as the unknown creatures that prowl in the dangerous outside world. The Delgados family, and seemingly everyone else in the world, one day find themselves trapped inside their house without any rhyme or reason. Every exit has been sealed shut in the wake of some heavy rainfall, forcing humanity into an involuntary lockdown.
For Ann and Jason, this means being trapped in their family home with their kids, Ruth and Graham, as well as their aging pet dog, Cassidy. Despite the mounting uncertainty of their predicament, the first few days of this arrangement prove to be fairly easy. However, as days turn into weeks and then months, complications begin to arise. More than the spine-chilling creatures outside, the Delgados discover that the real trouble lies within their walls, where their supplies, including Cassidy’s heart medication, continue to diminish with each day. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Jason Has to Put Cass Down After His Condition Worsens
Cassidy, aka Cass, is introduced into the story as the Delgados’ beloved pet dog. He remains the fifth member of the family, and once the rainfall-caused lockdown goes into effect, he survives it alongside his owners. At first, when it’s easier to believe that the situation will change in time, the family believes they can wait out the lockdown with the supplies they already have in their home. Food, though not in surplus, can easily last all five of them for a few months. However, the same doesn’t stand true for Cass’ medication for his heart condition that needs to be refilled, likely on a monthly basis.
As a result, once they begin to hit the one mark on being trapped inside the house, the lack of medication starts to become a problem. Without the medication, Cassidy’s condition worsens, leaving no possibility open in his future other than a slow and painful death. Once the Delgados realize the same, they have to reckon with a heartbreaking reality. The best thing that they can do for their dog right now is offer them a quick and easy death. As such, Jason decides to use his emergency gun to shoot the family dog while Ann keeps the children occupied in the den. However, Cass’ death isn’t the worst thing that these unforgiving times are going to demand from Jason and his family.
The Delgados Have to Resort to the Unthinkable in the Name of Survival
Even after Jason delivers his dog, Cassidy, to his fate, the hardest part isn’t quite over yet. Since the lockdown came out of nowhere, no one ever really had the time to prepare for it. This means that the food available in the Delgado household isn’t something that can outlast the apocalypse. One month into the ordeal, the parents have begun to see the potential for danger that this poses. Both Jason and Ann are aware that if nothing changes soon, the family could be staring down the barrel of starvation. For the same reason, the father has no choice but to think of his family even in the wake of Cass’ death. The dog’s death was a tragedy, and an inevitable one at that.
Yet, in the aftermath, it can help delay the inevitability of four other casualties. When Jason pitches the idea to Ann, she is understandably horrified but also understanding of the suggestion. Neither parent wants to see their children starve. Therefore, she asks him to deal with the impossibly difficult situation, asking to be left in the darkness of blissful ignorance in the process. Ultimately, Jason ends up having to chop up his beloved pet, freezing the meat and leaving it to be broken out only in the most desperate of situations. As the months go on and their food supplies run out, the meat ends up sustaining the family for a while. Eventually, five years later, once the family finally manages to leave the house and earn their freedom, they sail the new world in a boat, which they name after their beloved old dog.
Read More: The Last House Ending Explained: Why Can’t They Get Out of the House?
You must be logged in to post a comment.